Chennai Super Kings

Often known as the Super Kings or just CSK, the Chennai Super Kings are a cricket franchise that plays in the Indian Premier League. The team is based in Chennai, where it plays its home games, and it is one of the most successful teams to play in the IPL, a league they dominated for two consecutive seasons and one they have consistently performed well in.

Overview

chennai super kings cricket logoThe Chennai Super Kings were formed during the creation of the Indian Premier League in 2008. They have since gone on to be one of the league’s most successful teams, winning two titles in two consecutive seasons, and also securing big money finishes in the Champions League Twenty20, which they gained access to thanks to their performance in the IPL. In 2015 they were suspended for a alleged involvement in a betting scandal, and this suspension ruled them out of action for two years.

They play at the M.A. Chadicbaram stadium, which has a capacity of 38,000, and they have a secondary ground that can hold even more spectators.

History

The Chennai Super Kings were one of the first franchises announced by the BCCI during the creation of the Indian Premier League. They were sold to India Cements for $91 million in the same year, making them the fourth most expensive team in the IPL. India Cements bought the franchise rights for 10 years, as is the case with all of the other franchise owners in the league, although this particular franchise was transferred to a company named Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd shortly after the purchase.

In their very first season in the league, the Chennai Super Kings were one of the biggest spenders. They purchased some big names of the modern game, including Mahindra Singh Dhoni, who became the most expensive player in the first player auction. Dhoni was announced as the captain of the side and would play a big role in their early development.

They finished third in the league table during that first season, which saw them advance through to the knockout stage. In the semi-final they beat the Kings XI Punjab, but they lost the final after struggling to overcome the Rajasthan Royals. This earned them a spot in the Champions League, but due to the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008, this was cancelled and instead they were given $5 million.

In the season that followed the Chennai Super Kings signed one of the stars of the modern game, Andrew “Freddy” Flintoff. He quickly became the highest paid player in the league, but he only played a handful of games before succumbing to injury. Due to his status as an injury prone player, and one whose best days were perhaps behind him, it was a big risk for the Chennai Super Kings to take, and it definitely didn’t pay off. It didn’t have a huge effect on their performance though and they finished in second place, only to lose in the semi-final of the knockout stage.

In 2010 the Chennai Super Kings struggled, getting off to a very poor start. They turned it around though and after scraping into the knockout round, they went on to win the competition. They advanced to the Champions League with their heads held high and also won that competition, claiming a very special double and becoming the first IPL team to win the tournament.

They repeated their success in the IPL the following year and in 2014 they won the Champions League for the second time. In the interim years they put in consistent IPL performances, finishing as the runners-up on both occasions, a feat which they repeated in 2015. These performances, and their incredible results at the Champions League Twenty20, have made them the most successful team in the Indian Premier League.

This made it all the more shocking when they were suspended from the league in 2015 following a report into bet fixing. Their absence from the league will likely have a huge effect on the other teams, as the Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistently brilliant performers, paving the way for other teams to repeat their success.

Biggest Players

Andrew Flintoff has been one of the biggest signings for Chennai Super Kings, but his injury halted his career in the IPL before it even started. Dhoni, who also broke records when he was signed during the first player auction, was one of their more successful players, becoming the first captain of India to win the IPL, and leading the Chennai Super Kings to five finals. Suresh Raina was also a very popular player, not missing a single match for the Chennai Super Kings throughout his time as a player. He also holds a record for the most runs scored in the league, and in 2014 he was the only player to have surpassed 400 runs.

Another successful batsman to have plied his trade for the Chennai Super Kings is Michael Hussey, an Australian who achieved a record-breaking batting average for the champions. On the other side of the crease, Ashwin is one of the most successful bowlers that the Chennai Super Kings have had, taking more wickets than anyone else.

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