IPL 2018: Super moments of the Super Kings

Contrary to most popular beliefs, opinions, permutation-combinations and long-drawn-out speeches from experts, the Chennai Super Kings marked their IPL return in style and went back with a third trophy in their kitty. MS Dhoni, in his own inimitable style, orchestrated the season with the help of his trusted men, who stood up to be counted when it mattered the most.

Here's revisiting their incredible journey through a series of pictures:

#1 One-legged Kedar's opening salvo

Ambati Rayudu rescued CSK on one leg

Having shown his versatility for the Indian team in the middle-order, Kedar Jadhav was expected to perform on similar lines for his new franchise, but instead picked up a hamstring injury right after the opening game.

He missed the rest of the season, but not before emerging as an injured hero in the dying stages of the game against Mumbai, taking his team through. Walking on one leg, he somehow conjured enough magic to hit a six and a four to seal the game for Chennai.

#2 Home shift? Doesn't matter

CSK won their only game in Chennai

With much fanfare, the CSK side returned to the Chepauk, a ground that had been deprived of any IPL action for the last two years. Events unfolded in such a manner that the side had to give up their home ground, shifting to Pune for the remainder of the IPL.

They notched up their second win of the season, against Kolkata in the only game they played in Chennai, amidst all the off-field ruckus, and then moved to Pune. The support, however, did not dimish, as fans thronged the newly-adopted city, with some help from the CSK management, ensuring that a city more than a 1000 km from Chennai became their home away from home.

#3 Dhoni 'backs' his instincts

Dhoni was at his vintage best against KXIP

He's 36, and the continuous squats that he performs throughout the entirety of a game are not helping his cause. MS Dhoni has been suffering from back spasms lately, and was afflicted by them through the most part of his side's game against Mohali.

His side lost by a mere four runs, but not before he swung his magic wand, reclaiming his old form and massacring the Punjab bowlers beyond repair. His 79 off 44 set the tone for his form for the rest of the season.

#4 Watson makes Pune his new home

Watson compiled IPL 2018's second century in two days

Shane Watson was a matchwinner for the Rajasthan Royals during his time with the franchise. He won the Man of the Tournament award twice with them, and was sensational with both bat and ball before they got suspended.

Now part of the Chennai Super Kings, he rolled back the years in style, compiling a stroke-filled century, the then second of the season, hitting nine sixes and six fours, punishing the Rajasthan bowling for having gifted him two reprieves along the way.

#5 Dhoni shows Kohli who's the boss

MS Dhoni treated the fans to a barrage of boundaries

It was a clash of the pupil and the master, but the protege could only watch on in amazement, as MS Dhoni listed down the recipe for the perfect T20 finish in front of Virat Kohli's eyes and on his home ground.

With his side four down for 79, he really let loose from the get-go, crushing the RCB bowlers, bestowing special treatment to Pawan Negi and Mohammed Siraj. His 34-ball 70 gave the Bangalore side a thumping defeat.

#6 Jadeja joins the party

Jadeja wrecked RCB's batting line-up

In the second leg, Ravindra Jadeja, who had been having a fairly silent IPL until then, rose to the occasion and how, getting the better of Virat Kohli by cleaning him up. The look on Jadeja's face, and his no-celebration at the moment, made for one of the images of the IPL.

He took 3-18 in his four and the Royal Challengers stuttered to 127-9 in 20, with CSK sauntering home to a comfortable win.

#7 Rayudu breaks the 100-barrier

Rayudu repaid the faith of the Chennai management

He was one of the vital cogs in a successful Mumbai Indians franchise for years, but never progressed up the order. With the Chennai Super Kings, he got a spot at the top and proved what an asset he can be in the powerplays, scoring runs for fun at a consistency few could manage.

He even broke the 100-run barrier after coming close on a couple of occasions, saving his best against the best bowling attack of the IPL, the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

#8 Ngidi turns Pune into Durban

Ngidi broke the back of the Punjab batting

MS Dhoni had no qualms in admitting that he was impressed with Lungi Ngidi ever since he faced him in South Africa. He literally toyed with the Punjab batting at Pune, turning the MCA stadium into Kingsmead, and finished with figures of 4-10.

He swung the ball both ways, hitting the deck hard and breathing fire, his spell ensuring that Punjab did not qualify for the playoffs. The coming good of the South African at a crucial stage typified how each player was ready to bring out his best when it mattered.

#9 Fafulous effort makes it 3-0 against SRH

Faf du Plessis rose to the occasion

The exact role that Faf du Plessis had to play for Chennai this season was questioned by many. The top-order seemed full, and he did not seem to fit into the scheme of things, given the sedate manner in which he scores his runs.

The importance of his experience came to the fore when he struck around on a difficult track, hanging around as the rest of the side crumbled to bits. His match-winning 67 against SRH in the first qualifier got Chennai past the finishing line and highlighted their undying ability to clinch crucial moments during tight games.

#10 Watto finish to the season for CSK!

Watson ended the IPL season in style

One wonders why Shane Watson retired from international cricket! In the finals, the biggest occasion of them all, Watson, aged 36, proved that his bat was as good as it was in his heyday, stroking a scintillating century (only the second ever in the final of an IPL) to power Chennai to the title.

Suffering from a nagging hamstring problem, and unable to bowl, he made his bat do all the talking after a silent start that saw him consume ten dots. In the next 47, he scored 117 runs and was the toast of the side by the time the game ended.