Who Makes It to Our All Time IPL XI? - CSK
Chennai Super Kings All-Time XI (Source: Twitter)
When we talk about the T20 Leagues across the world, the biggest of them all is the Indian Premier League. The league has been historically played between eight teams. But from the last year, it has got bigger with two more teams in the form of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.
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Now talking about the teams in the IPL, Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistent of them all. The Super Kings have been in the finals for a record nine out of the 13 times they have participated in the tournament.
Over the years, some world-class players have represented the franchise. Let us now go in-depth and make an analysis to find the best all-time XI of Chennai Super Kings.
Openers of CSK All-Time XI
Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson
CSK All-time Openers (Source: OneCricket)
Matthew Hayden: The Australian opener was a part of the Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2010. Hayden played 32 matches for CSK and scored 1107 runs in them at an average and strike rate of 36.90 and 137.52 respectively. He also won the Orange Cap in 2009, when he scored 572 runs from 12 matches at a strike rate of 144.81 and an average of 52.00. His records speak for himself and Hayden makes his way as the first opener in the all-time XI of CSK.
Shane Watson: The Australian all-rounder was a part of the CSK from 2018-2020. Shane Watson played 43 matches for the Super Kings and scored 1252 runs in them at an average of 30.54 and a strike rate of 136.38. He played a brilliant knock for the team in the final of 2018, where he scored 117 not-out runs off of 57 deliveries and helped the team to a convincing eight wickets victory. Watson repeated his antiques in the final of 2019 and scored 80 runs off 59 balls but unfortunately, CSK failed to lift the trophy that time around.
Middle Order of CSK All-Time XI
Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C and WK)
Suresh Raina: We are talking about CSK and we can never leave Suresh Raina out of the discussion. He has been a part of the team since the inception of the league till the end of his IPL career, barring the two seasons where the franchise was suspended. Raina has played 176 matches for CSK and has scored 4687 runs in them at a strike rate of 136.93 and an average of 32.32. There are countless instances when Raina dug the team out of the hole. There can never be a CSK all-time XI without Suresh Raina in it.
Ambati Rayudu: The number four position in this XI goes to Ambati Rayudu. It was the position over which there was the biggest dilemma between him and Subramaniam Badrinath. But Rayudu's numbers are slightly better than Badrinath and hence he makes the cut for CSK. In 74 matches for the franchise, Rayudu has scored 1774 runs at a strike rate and an average of 128.46 and 32.25 respectively.
CSK All-time XI Middle Order (Source: OneCricket)
MS Dhoni: MS Dhoni and CSK are synonymous with each other. He has been leading the team since 2008 and it has been 13 seasons since. Not only has he led the team to numerous glories, but MS Dhoni has also finished off a great many matches for them single-handedly. Well, 50 years down the line when someone will be making a CSK all-time XI, MS Dhoni will be the first name on the list. And without a doubt, it will be Dhoni as the skipper of this eleven.
Lower Middle Order of CSK All-Time XI
Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo
Ravindra Jadeja: The presence of Ravindra Jadeja provides great dynamism and flexibility to any side. He is a true 3-D player in the true sense of the term. Be it batting, bowling or fielding, Jadeja can turn out to be a match-winner in any of the trades. He has played 142 matches for the franchise, scoring 1440 runs in them at an average of 26.67 and a strike rate of 134.20. With the ball, Jadeja has picked up 105 wickets at a strike rate of 22.20 while conceding runs at an economy of 7.53.
CSK All-time XI All-rounders (Source: OneCricket)
Dwayne Bravo: The West Indian all-rounder has been a real asset for the Super Kings since time immemorial. Bravo has won matches for CSK with the bat and has also made impactful contributions with the ball. He has played 116 matches for them and has scored 1004 runs in them at a strike rate of 137.16. With the ball, Bravo has been MSD's trump card in the death overs. He has picked up 140 wickets while being a part of CSK at a strike rate of 16.12, conceding runs at an economy of 8.37.
Spinner for CSK All-Time XI
Ravichandran Ashwin: The off-spinner was a big part of the CSK team during the years he was playing for them. Ashwin came into recognition because of his economical yet potent spells during his stint in the yellow jersey. He has played 97 matches for the franchise and has picked up 90 wickets in them at a strike rate and economy rate of 22.51 and 6.46 respectively.
CSK All-time bowlers (Source: OneCricket)
Pacers for CSK All -Time XI
Deepak Chahar: The Indian pacer has been an integral part of the team in the past few years. Deepak Chahar has been a potent bowler with the new cherry and has also been pretty handy with the bat. Chahar is a really valuable addition to the team. He has played 58 matches for the team and has picked up 58 wickets in them at a strike rate of 21.59 and an economy rate of 7.70.
Ashish Nehra: The Indian left-arm joined CSK in the dusk of his career. But Ashish Nehra was a valuable addition as he did a great job for them in both the opening stages and in the death overs. Nehra has played 20 matches for CSK, picking up 30 wickets in them at a strike rate and economy rate of 15.40 and 7.68 respectively.
Doug Bollinger: The Australian speedster brought that Australian aggression into the CSK bowling line-up. He was of great value to the team and on many occasions got them past the line with the ball in difficult situations. Bollinger played 27 matches for CSK and picked up 37 wickets in them at a strike rate of 15.57 and an economy rate of 7.22.
CSK All-time XI
Matthew Hayden ✈️
Shane Watson ✈️
Suresh Raina
Ambati Rayudu
MS Dhoni (c and wk)
Ravindra Jadeja
Dwayne Bravo✈️
Ravichandran Ashwin
Deepak Chahar
Ashish Nehra
Doug Bollinger✈️
 "Probuddha Bhattacharjee")
