Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team of the IPL. They have won the cash-rich T20 League twice (in 2010 and 2011) and have also won the Champions League (2010) title once.
While every team of the IPL has changed its captain at least once, Chennai Super Kings have been led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in all seasons so far.
Dhoni joined the team as a skipper in the inaugural season and was also its highest paid cricketer. He led them to two IPL championships and one Champions League crown. Chennai, who are eyeing their third title, will be delighted with the fact that their skipper has been in tremendous form with the bat of late. Dhoni has played 78 matches for CSK and all as a captain.
CSK are coached by Stephen Fleming, one of the most successful captains of New Zealand. He joined the team as a player in the inaugural season in 2008 but came into coaching from the very next season onwards.
CSK's home ground is MA Chidambram Stadium in Chepauk. The franchise is owned by India Cements.
Strengths
Team's mainstay and vice-captain Suresh Raina is the all-time leading run-getter in IPL history with 2254 runs, including 14 half-centuries. With 69 wickets in his kitty, Albie Morkel is Chennai's leading wicket-taker. Michael Hussey has been a key player in Chennai's success in the tournament. Murali Vijay's recent form will play up to Chennai's advantage.
Weaknesses
However, CSK will miss the services of their Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara and new Lanka recruit Akila Dhanajaya, who will have to sit out during their home matches at the MA Chidambram, Chepauk. The Chennai-based team will also be without injured South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis in the initial stages of the tournament. He was their second highest run-getter with 398 runs behind Raina last season.
Squad
MS Dhoni (Captain), Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Subramaniam Badrinath, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Akila Dhananjaya, Baba Aparajith, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jason Holder, Michael Hussey, Imtiaz Ahmed, Shadab Jakati, Nuwan Kulasekara, R Karthikeyan, Ben Laughlin, Ronit More, Chris Morris, Dirk Nannes, Wriddhiman Saha, Ankit Rajpoot, Vijay Shankar, Mohit Sharma.
HOT PLAYERS
Suresh Raina: The vice-captain of the team looks in his best form when it comes to playing T20 cricket. Raina is their leading run-getter in IPL history with 2254 runs and leads the way with 14 half-centuries. The Ghaziabad lad has also boosted his side in many matches with his ability to roll his arm over. Many see him as a future captain at CSK when Dhoni vacates his position in the team.
R Ashwin: Ashwin has been Chennai's strike bowler over the past couple of seasons. He is the second highest wicket taker for the franchise behind Albie Morkel, having picked up 49 wickets so far. Ashwin was bought back by his city franchise after a tough bidding war with the Royal Challengers of Bangalore for a whopping 800,000 US Dollars in the 2011 IPL auctions.
Murali Vijay: Vijay has been one of the most dangerous batsmen at the top of the order with two centuries to his credit. The stylish opener's recent form will play up to Chennai's advantage. Vijay was the highest run-getter in the recently concluded four-match Test series against Australia, which India won 4-0. CSK will hope that Vijay carries his form into the upcoming season and help them achieve their 3rd IPL title.
Albie Morkel: Albie is Chennai's leading wicket-taker with 69 scalps. The South African all-rounder is also a ferocious batsman down the order. Who could forget his fiery knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore last year where he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! Needing 43 off 12 balls, Morkel hammered Virat Kohli for 28 runs in the second last over to guide CSK to an incredible 5-wicket win.
Michael Hussey: A brilliant Test player, many doubted his capability in the shortest format of the game, Mike Hussey took the world by surprise when he struck a century in the opening season of the IPL. The southpaw struck 116 not out off 54 balls against Kings XI Punjab in 2008. Hussey has been a key figure to Chennai's success so far. Mr. Cricket has been out of action since his retirement in January 2013, but a lot will be on his shoulders since the two-time champions will be without the services of Faf du Plessis for at least a couple of weeks.
Dwayne Bravo: The West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo brings a variety to the team with his all-round ability as a cricketer. The right-arm medium pacer is more than a handy batsman lower down the order and is an automatic choice into any Twenty20 squad.
Chennai Super Kings - a mini India with large dreams!
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