IPL 8, Know Your Team: Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings

Present Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Baba Aparajith, Ishwar Pandey, Mithun Minhas, Pawan Negi, Ronit More, Rahul Sharma, Ankush Bains, Irfan Pathan, Pratyush Singh and Ekalavya Dwivedi, Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Francois du Plessis, Michael Hussey, Matt Henry, Samuel Badree, Kyle Abbott and Andrew Tye.(IPL 2015: Full Coverage)

Last Year's Squad

MS Dhoni, Baba Aparajith,Ravichandran Ashwin, Samuel Badree, Faf du Plessis, John Hastings, Matt Henry, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum, Mithun Manhas, Ronit More, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Ishwar Pandey, Suresh Raina, Vijay Shankar, Mohit Sharma, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo

Looking back: IPL-7 Results

Chennai Super Kings finished third behind Kings XI Punjab and champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the points table. CSK won nine out of 14 matches but failed to beat Kings XI Punjab on all three occasions, including the second qualifier.

Looking forward: IPL-8

CSK have retained almost the same squad that played in the last season. They will be boosted by the return on Dwayne Bravo, who pulled out of the squad due to injury last season, and Michael Hussey who is also making a comeback after just a one-year stint with Mumbai Indians. CSK will also be on a high after winning the 2014 Champions League in October.

Prediction:

CSK have always been among the favourites to win the tournament. They are the most consistent team in the tournament having won the trophy twice and making it to the final five times in seven seasons. The MS Dhoni-led side will once again be billed to finish in the top four.