6 tournaments. 3 titles. The only team to reach semi finals in all seasons of the IPL. The only team to win the IPL twice. Meet Chennai Super Kings, the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League. Results like the ones mentioned above led to internet jokes like 'IPL is a tournament where 9 teams compete to meet CSK in the finals'. In a way, it is quite a remarkable achievement to achieve consistency in the format of unpredictability. A glance at the results of the three T20 World Cups show gives an idea about how tough it is for a team to remain consistent in this format; the three World Cups saw three different champions - India in 2007, Pakistan in 2009 and England in 2010. The fact that the IPL is contested by 9 (8 in the first 3 editions and 10 in the previous edition) sides of more or less equal strength makes these achievements even more commendable. So how does Chennai do the impossible: consistency in T20?
CSK's success dates way back to the very start of the tournament - the inaugural auctions. When other franchises, who did not know what to expect from a league of this sort, went for big stars, India Cements showed their experience and put together a balanced team which had all the bases covered. The results came almost immediately - CSK were runners up in the inaugural edition, qualified for the semi finals in the following season and emerged champions in the next edition. The first three years were successful but the real challenge came before the fourth edition, when the teams had to change to accommodate two new franchises. The owners of the other franchises developed experience in the 3-year period and knew what to do with their teams, which made the 2011 auctions an important event in the tournament's history. CSK had already established a firm base in the inaugural auctions, and went in with the same strategy. 4 players - Dhoni, Raina, Albie Morkel and Murali Vijay - were retained and most of the others were brought back. The side remained almost the same, and the results followed too. IPL 2011 was a much more competitive tournament than the previous editions, but the Super Kings made it relatively easy to the championship title. A smooth ride through the league stages meant a relatively easy qualification into the last four, unlike the frenetic one in 2010. Even the finals turned out to be a one-sided affair as Chennai coasted to a big win in front of its home fans.
STRENGTHS
Chennai's biggest strength lies in its team composition, which is filled with all-rounders. The likes of Murali Vijay, Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina are followed by some of the world's best hitters - Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo and Albie Morkel. Add the calmness of Subramaniam Badrinath to this powerful list and you have one of the best line ups capable of handling any situation. Chennai's bowling is not as powerful as its batting but they have good balance and variations. The bowling attack depends a lot on off spinner Ashwin and left arm quick Doug Bollinger, and the duo have been consistent performers for the side. Dhoni's brilliance in handling his resources, especially in the middle overs, adds to CSK's strengths on the field. The Super Kings have also drafted in Ravindra Jadeja through the auction, which further strengthens all three departments.
WEAKNESSES
Chennai Super Kings' weakness lies in its predictability more than anything else. CSK's game-plans and strategies are quite easy to understand, especially when they are batting. If the team loses early wickets, the likes of Badrinath or Saha are sent in to consolidate. If the team gets good starts, the likes of Morkel and Dhoni walk in and look to continue the momentum. When it comes to bowling, Dhoni looks to stifle the opposition with spinners in the middle overs. The other teams, by now, will have a clear idea of what to expect from CSK in each situation and the onus is on Dhoni to make sure that his strategies do not become too obvious and predictable.
STAR PLAYERS
MS Dhoni: The Super Kings' captain has become an adopted son for the city of Chennai and adds a lot of star value to the team and franchise. His leadership skills on the field, his big hitting abilities with the bat, and the general aura and charisma associated with Dhoni makes him one of the the biggest crowd pullers.
Suresh Raina: With a tally of 1813 runs, Suresh Raina is the leading run scorer across all seasons of the IPL. His ability to walk in and maintain a healthy run rate right from the word go makes him one of the best number 3 batsmen in the format. When in form, he owns the mid wicket boundary and takes a liking to left arm spinners. His ability with the ball and brilliance on the field makes him a useful package.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
The TN trio: Tamil Nadu's Murali Vijay, Ashwin Ravichandran and Subramaniam Badrinath form the backbone of the Super Kings' playing eleven. Vijay and Ashwin shot to fame in the third edition of the IPL and the subsequent Champions League, and even made it to the national sides after consistent performances in the IPL. Badrinath has been an unsung hero for the team, often rescuing them from trouble and taking them to safe waters with his calm and solid batting. The fact that the three are from Chennai adds a lot of local flavour to the team and makes it easier for the fans to connect to the side.
Ravindra Jadeja: The 2 million dollar man will make his debut for the Chennai franchise in the fifth edition. Jadeja's batting abilities may not be a cause of concern for international teams but he has shown in the past that he has the talent to deliver when it comes to the Indian Premier League. His left arm spin adds to Dhoni's bowling options and his presence bolsters the fielding as well.
KEY PLAYER TIMELINES
Michael Hussey will not be available for the first half of the tournament as he will be playing for Australia in the Test series against West Indies. Abhinav Mukund, who injured himself in practice, will not be fit to play the inaugural match against Mumbai Indians as well.
CSK in IPL:
| Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 37 | 24 | 1 | - | 60 |
TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Runners up |
| 2009 | Semi finalists |
| 2010 | Winners |
| 2011 | Winners |
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