IPL: Chennai Super Kings' All-time Best XI

The Chennai Super Kings is the No 1 team in IPL on all counts. Their success could be attributed to so many factors like the leadership of Dhoni, the presence of strong local talent and the franchise’s strategy to always keep the core of the team intact.

CSK has also been fortunate to select long-lasting players in MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina in the very first season itself and to retain them forever subsequently.

The retention fee spent on these great players over the years has been comparatively lower than their market value at various point in time.

In the past, CSK had been represented by legends like Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Brendon McCullum. Several exceptionally talented players had played their part in CSK being successful over a period of time.

In this article, an attempt is made to select the all-time best playing XI of CSK. To be fair to the longevity of the players with CSK, only players who have played in 25 or more matches for CSK have been considered for selection.

That rules out current players like Shane Watson, Ambati Rayadu and Kedar Jadhav. The Players’ statistics referred to in this article relates to the performances of the players for CSK alone.

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Openers

Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay - The local flavor of CSK

Matches – 65, Innings – 65, Runs – 1612, Avg – 26, SR – 128

Murali Vijay first represented CSK in IPL 2009. After a poor start in his debut year, Vijay had been a consistent performer for CSK for the next four years.

Vijay was the only player to have scored two IPL hundreds for CSK before Shane Watson equaled that rare feat last year.

During his hay days, Vijay had forged a formidable opening partnership with Mike Hussey. Vijay’s transformation from a technically correct Test opener to an aggressive T20 opener happened at CSK when he learned to muscle the bowlers during the powerplay.

Though Vijay’s tenure at CSK did not make him a successful International player in white ball cricket, it did help in enhancing his range of strokes and in improving his fielding skills.

Murali Vijay is the opener in this team.

Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey - The most consistent overseas opener for CSK

Matches – 50, Innings – 49, Runs – 1768, Avg – 42, SR – 124

Mike Hussey made his debut for CSK in the inaugural season of IPL 2008. In his very first match for CSK, Hussey smashed 116 off 54 balls at a strike rate of 215.

On national duty, Hussey could not play many matches for CSK in 2009 and 2010. In the next three years, Hussey scored 1486 runs for CSK. With 733 runs, he was the orange cap holder in IPL 2013.

Vijay and Hussey have been one of the most successful opening pairs in IPL history having scored more than 1000 runs together at an average of 41 with the highest partnership of 159.

For CSK, so many overseas players have played the role of the opener successfully. Matthew Hayden, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, and Faf de Plessis, to name a few.

Out of all these players, Michael Hussey was the most consistent overseas opener for CSK. Besides, his partnership with Murali Vijay had won many a match for CSK. Hence, Mike Hussey is the second opener in this team.

Middle-order

Suresh Raina(Vice-Captain)

Suresh Raina holds all IPL records

Matches – 147, Inns – 143, Runs – 4144, Avg – 35, SR – 139

Suresh Raina holds all the records in IPL. He is the highest run-getter in IPL, holds the record for most number of catches and most number of IPL appearances.

Raina has been CSK’s permanent No. 3 from Day 1. He has the game to annul any early loss of wickets and to optimize the run-scoring during the powerplay.

He also has the temperament to play the long innings by T20 standards and to take his team through. Once settled, Raina is unstoppable.

Raina’s best IPL innings came against Kings XI Punjab in the second qualifying final in IPL 2014. Chasing 226 for a win, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early.

Raina faced the third ball of the innings and got out to the first ball of the seventh over. In between Raina galloped 87 runs off 25 balls with 12 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 348 before he got run-out.

Raina would be the ideal No 3 for any T20 team, leave alone for CSK.

Subramaniam Badrinath

S. Badrinath - The trouble-shooter for CSK

Matches – 95, Inns – 67, Runs – 1441, Avg - 31, SR – 119

For CSK, Badrinath was playing the role of steadying the ship whenever the team lost early wickets. Badrinath used to arrest the slide and improve the scoring rates with proper cricketing shots.

The magnitude of Badrinath’s contribution to CSK could be gauged by the fact that from 2008 to 2012, he had played 84 consecutive matches for CSK. Apart from a stubborn batsman, Badrinath was a safe fielder too.

Badrinath had a wonderful IPL in 2010 and 2011 when he scored 356 and 396 runs respectively. Incidentally, CSK won the IPL trophy during those 2 years.

Badrinath’s best innings in IPL was against Kings XI in Dharmasala in IPL 2010. It was a must-win match for CSK to progress into the playoffs. As always, Badrinath was sent in when CSK lost two wickets for 27 in pursuit of a stiff target of 193.

Though Badrinath took his time to settle down, he made up for that later by scoring 53 off 36 balls. Due to the efforts of Badrinath and MS Dhoni, CSK won that match and later went on to win the trophy for the first time.

Badrinath is the No 4 batsman in this team.

MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicket-Keeper)

Dhoni - The undisputed King of CSK

M – 145, I – 131, Runs – 3441, Avg – 42, SR – 141, Cat – 70, St – 26

MS Dhoni has been the brand identity for CSK all along. CSK is the most popular and most followed team in IPL all because of the presence of one MS Dhoni in the team.

The Chennai franchise was fortunate to pocket Dhoni in the inaugural IPL auction which escalated the image of the franchise to greater heights year after year.

From 2008 to 2015, Dhoni had crossed the 300 run mark in every edition of IPL except in 2010. More than the number of runs, it was the leadership qualities in him which stood out. He was adept at operating his overseas and local resources to the optimum level.

Even an overseas International Captain like a Faf du Plessis has acknowledged Dhoni’s role in developing his leadership skills just by observing him handling matters.

Dhoni had his best IPL season last year when he amazed 455 runs at an average of 76 and strike rate of 150. He did his finisher’s job to perfection when he remained not out on 9 of the 15 innings that he batted.

Dhoni is the undisputed captain and wicket-keeper of this team.

All-Rounders

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo - The positive energy in the team

Matches – 77, Inns – 55, Runs – 847, Avg – 28, SR – 137, Wkts – 93, Economy – 8.43

In terms of statistics, Dwayne Bravo is the best all-rounder in IPL history. Dwayne Bravo generates positive energy around him.

He could land some lusty blows with the bat towards the end of the innings, could bowl his yorkers at will as the designated death bowler, could field like a superman and could exhibit his dancing skills as well by way of celebration.

With his magic and antics on the field, Bravo could lift the morale of his teammates irrespective of the match situation. For his 32 wickets in 2013, Bravo got the purple cap.

No one could forget Bravo’s effort with the bat in the opening match of last year’s IPL against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. Mumbai had the match in the bag when CSK needed 51 runs in 21 balls with two wickets in hand, one of them being Bravo.

Bravo played an amazing inning of 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes. Suddenly CSK came from nowhere to win that match by 1 wicket. Aside from this incredible innings, Bravo has also contributed to a number of CSK wins with his cameos at the end.

Bravo had a part in almost all of CSK’s close wins either with the bat or the ball. He is the evergreen all-rounder in this CSK team.

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja - The Indian all-rounder in the team

Matches 86, Inns – 60, Runs – 759, Avg – 21, SR – 127, Wkts – 64, Economy – 7.73

Ravindra Jadeja joined the CSK team in IPL 2012 and since then he has been a regular member of the team. Like Bravo and Suresh Raina, Jadeja is an excellent fielder, effective left-arm spinner and could use the long handle with the bat.

In his very second match for CSK against Deccan Chargers in 2012, Jadeja made his presence felt with an all-round performance which won the game for CSK. Promoted up the order at No. 5, Jadeja made 48 off 29 balls.

Then when his turn came with the ball, Jadeja finished with figures of 5 for 16 in 4 overs. This could very well be one of the best all-around performances in IPL history.

Like Bravo, Jadeja too is capable of hitting some powerful blows in the end. He showed that skills even in the last IPL against KKR when he walloped a six off the penultimate ball of the match bowled by Vinay Kumar to take CSK to a thrilling win.

Jadeja is a dangerous bowler on the slow and low wickets at Chepauk. On such wickets, he is hard to score off. Jadeja is the spin bowling all-rounder in this team.

Albie Morkel

Albie Morkel - The second overseas all-rounder in the team

Matches – 78, Inns – 59, Runs – 827, Avg – 24, SR – 145, Wkts – 76, Economy – 8.10

Albie Morkel was with the CSK team right from the first season. He was the No.1 all-rounder for CSK before Dwayne Bravo arrived on the scene.

Morkel was an intelligent bowler with both the new and old ball. He was also a dangerous big hitter down the order who could change the course of a match with his bat.

Morkel’s best in IPL with the bat came in the very first season in 2008 when he made 71 against Rajasthan Royals. But his best cameo came against Royal Challengers in 2012 at Bangalore. CSK needed 42 off 12 balls at an asking rate of 21 when Dhoni got out.

Morkel was the new batsman and he was pleasantly surprised to see Virat Kohli bowling the 19th over of the innings. Morkel struck into Kohli in that over with scores of 4,6,4,6,2 and 6. Morkel made 28 off 7 balls at a strike rate of 400 which enabled CSK to win off the last ball.

Morkel was equally successful with the ball having claimed more than 10 wickets in his first 5 seasons.

Morkel is the second overseas all-rounder in this team.

Bowlers

Ravichandran Ashwin

R.Ashwin - The most economical bowler for CSK

Matches -97, Wickets – 90, Economy – 6.46

R. Ashwin was one player who got the most out of IPL. With his performances in IPL 2010, Ashwin caught the eyes of the selectors and skipper Dhoni which launched his International career.

Ashwin was a raw talent when he first made his debut in IPL 2009. He could bowl only 4 overs in his first season. But thereafter from 2010 to 2015, Ashwin managed to take 10 or more wickets every season.

Moreover, his economy rate in this period was always below 7. In fact, after having played 97 matches for CSK, Ashwin was the most economical bowler for CSK across seasons.

At CSK, Ashwin became an expert with the new ball when Dhoni gave him the opportunity to open the bowling. His best for CSK came in the match against KKR in 2010 at his home ground Chennai.

Opening the bowling for CSK, Ashwin got the wickets of Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and David Hussey in his first three overs. He was denied a hat-trick by umpire Simon Taufel when Angelo Mathews gloved him to leg slip which the umpire failed to spot.

Ashwin has had his success against Chris Gayle. He is the second spinner in this team.

Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma - The most successful Indian fast bowler for CSK

Matches – 47, Wickets – 57, Economy – 7.80

Mohit Sharma has been the most successful Indian fast bowler for CSK. Though he could play for only three seasons for CSK, he managed to take 57 wickets in that period.

He took 20, 23 and 14 wickets in 2013,2014 and 2015 respectively. He has always been a consistent wicket-taker for CSK.

Mohit’s best bowling effort for CSK came against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2014 when he took 4 for 14 in his four overs.

His wickets included that of Ambati Rayadu and Pollard. In the same season, he was once again successful against Mumbai Indians in the Elimination match when he took 3 for 42.

In IPL 2013, Sharma cleaned up both David Warner and Virender Sehwag against Delhi to finish with figures of 3 for 10.

In this team, Mohit Sharma would be the ideal first change bowler and the designated death bowler. He could surprise the batsmen with his clever change of pace at the death.

Doug Bollinger

Bollinger was instrumental in CSK winning the titles in 2010 & 2011

Matches – 27, Wickets – 37, Economy – 7.22

CSK was in a spot of bother in IPL 2010 losing a number of preliminary matches. They were looking for a savior. That was when Doug Bollinger arrived on the horizon in CSK’s 32nd match of the season.

In his very first match in IPL against Rajasthan Royals, Bollinger made an immediate impact by knocking off his countryman Shane Watson. He finished his first match with figures of 2 for 15 in 4 overs.

Bollinger kept improving thereafter in the season. He reserved his best against Deccan Changers in the second semi-final when he had the magic figures of 4 for 13 to help CSK defend a low total of 142 successfully.

Bollinger came back for CSK in the next season in 2011 and took 17 wickets. He was instrumental in CSK winning the title for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011.

Being a left-arm fast bowler, Bollinger’s angle was difficult to handle both with the new and old ball. His relentless pace was his added advantage.

Bollinger is the new ball bowler to partner Albie Morkel in this team.