Chennai Super Kings is the most consistent team in the history of Indian Premier League. There is no other team that can match the level of CSK in terms of consistent performances. They have progressed to the playoffs of the tournament in every single edition of the IPL except the one in 2020. The basic approach of CSK is that they have always stuck to a core group of players. Chennai always showed faith in the veteran players and it has worked wonderfully for them. A lot of big names have played for Chennai Super Kings in the history of IPL. Let’s take a look at Chennai Super Kings All-Time Best Playing 11.
Chennai Super Kings, the yellow brigade, is one of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team has a massive fan following, and rightfully so. The Chennai Super Kings have consistently performed well in the IPL, making it to the playoffs in every season they have participated in, except for the 2020 season where they had a tough time due to a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chennai Super Kings are known for their strong team spirit and their never-say-die attitude. Apart from their on-field performances, the Chennai Super Kings have also been known for their fair play and sportsmanship. The team has always played the game in the right spirit, respecting their opponents and the umpires. They have a rich history of success and are loved by fans across the world. Their performances on the field have been exemplary, and they have set a high benchmark for other teams to follow.
Over the years, the team has had some outstanding players who have left a mark on the tournament. In this article, we take a look at the All-time Best CSK XI in IPL history.
The Ultimate CSK All-Time Playing 11: Who Makes the Cut?
If you are a fan of Indian Premier League (IPL) and especially of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), then you know just how much this team holds a special place in the hearts of its fans. With three IPL titles under their belt, CSK has undoubtedly been one of the most successful teams in the league’s history. But what makes this team even more special is the players who have donned the iconic yellow jersey over the years. As a CSK fan, have you ever wondered who would make it to the ultimate CSK all-time playing 11? With so many talented players to choose from, it’s not an easy feat. But fear not, we’ve done the hard work for you. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top contenders and narrow it down to the ultimate all-time playing 11 for CSK. So sit back, relax, and let’s dive in!
The criteria for selecting the CSK All-Time Playing 11
Before we dive into the players who make it to the ultimate CSK all-time playing 11, let’s first take a look at the criteria we used to select them. We considered various factors such as the player’s performance for CSK, their impact on the team’s success, consistency, and their ability to perform in pressure situations. We also took into account the roles that each player would play in the team and their ability to complement each other.
CSK All-Time Best Playing 11
1. Michael Hussey
The opening batsmen are the ones who set the tone for the rest of the innings, and CSK has had some great openers over the years. But when it comes to the ultimate all-time playing 11, there are two names that stand out – Murali Vijay, Mathew Haiden and Michael Hussey.
The batting lineup of CSK has always been strong, with some of the biggest names in cricket playing for the franchise. At the top of the order, we have the explosive opener, Mike Hussey. His aggressive batting and ability to score big runs quickly make him a dangerous player. Even after retiring from cricket, Hussey is still associated with CSK. He is the batting coach of the team. The Australian veteran has scored a total of almost 2000 runs in 59 games in the IPL. He was a part of Chennai Super Kings’ first every squad in 2008. He won the orange cap in 2014. Hussey always played for rivals Mumbai Indians at a time. However, in his final year in the IPL, Hussey re-joined his former team CSK and played his last game in yellow jersey. His contribution to CSK’s IPL campaign earns him a spot in Chennai Super Kings All-Time Best Playing 11.
2. Murali Vijay
Matthew Hayden was an integral part of the CSK team that won the IPL in 2010 and 2011. He was a powerful opener who could dominate the opposition from the very first ball. Murali Vijay, on the other hand, was a consistent performer for CSK over the years. He played 56 matches for CSK and scored 1,768 runs at an average of 40.16 and a strike rate of 122.64. He was also instrumental in helping CSK win their first IPL title in 2010.
So, who makes the cut? It’s a tough call, but we have to give the nod to Murali Vijay because of the limitation of number of foreign players in the playing 11. While Hayden was undoubtedly a great opener, Vijay’s consistency and ability to perform in pressure situations make him the better choice for the ultimate all-time playing 11.
Vijay’s ability to play big innings and anchor the innings makes him a valuable asset to the team. Vijay made his test debut for India in 2008, but he rose to the occasion after consistent performances for Chennai Super Kings. He scored over 450 runs in 2010. Due to this, he earned a call up in both the T20 and ODI setup for India. He was quite consistent in IPL at that time and scored 434, 336 and 312 runs in the next 3 seasons.
He was not retained by Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 season. He joined Delhi Daredevils and later joined Kings XI Punjab. CSK decided to brought back Vijay in the squad after their ban ended. Unfortunately he was not able to recreate his form from his early days with the side this time. Murali Vijay scored 2587 runs in 103 matches in his IPL career.
3. Shane Watson
The middle-order batsmen are the backbone of any cricket team, and CSK has had some great ones over the years. But when it comes to the ultimate all-time playing 11, there are a few names that stand out – Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, and Faf du Plessis.
Faf du Plessis has been a revelation for CSK since joining the team in 2011. He has scored 2,238 runs in 80 matches for CSK at an average of 33.37 and a strike rate of 126.13. He has also been a great fielder and has taken some stunning catches for CSK over the years.
It was quite a tough call in this spot because there can be only four foreign players in the playing 11. We decided to pick Watson over Faf Du Plessis. Shane Watson took retirement from all forms of cricket in November 2020. He was the hero of final and scripted CSK’s title win in 2018. He played his last match for CSK in October 2020 in the 13th edition of the IPL. His heroics in the 2020 finals are enough to get him a place in CSK All-Time Best Playing 11.
4. Suresh Raina
Following Watson, we have the stylish left-handed batsman, Suresh Raina, who is known for his aggressive batting and excellent fielding skills. Raina’s presence in the middle order gives the team the much-needed impetus to score runs quickly.
Suresh Raina is the highest run-scorer for CSK in the IPL, with 4,527 runs in 164 matches at an average of 34.13 and a strike rate of 137.14. He has been a consistent performer for CSK over the years and has played a crucial role in their success.
Suresh Raina is among the most obvious names in CSK All-Time Best Playing 11. He is the most consistent batsman in the history of the IPL. Raina was the first batsman to score 5000 runs in IPL. He played for CSK in his entire IPL career except the two seasons when he captained Gujarat Lions during the 2-year ban on Chennai Super Kings. However, his journey with CSK did not receive a happy ending as he was not retained by CSK in IPL 2022 Mega Auction. It was quite shocking the Raina remained unsold in the whole auction.
5. MS Dhoni (capt & wk)
At number five, we have the CSK skipper and one of the best finishers in the world, MS Dhoni. MSD needs no introduction. He is one of the greatest cricketers of all time and has been the backbone of the CSK team since its inception. Dhoni’s finishing skills and ability to hit big shots when needed make him an important player in the team. MSD will be the first name in Chennai Super Kings All-Time Best Playing 11. Just like Raina, Dhoni has also played for only CSK except the two seasons. In the inaugural edition of IPL, Dhoni was the first player ever to be bought by CSK in 2008. In IPL 2022 Mega Auctions also, he was retained by CSK even at such a old age. Dhoni has led CSK to 3 IPL titles and 2 CLT20s which makes him the best captain in IPL history.
When it comes to the wicketkeeper, there is only one name that comes to mind – MS Dhoni. Dhoni is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world and has been a crucial part of the CSK team since its inception. He has taken 94 catches and made 38 stumpings in 190 matches for the team. His leadership skills and calmness under pressure also make him the perfect choice for the captain of the ultimate all-time playing 11 for CSK.
6. Dwayne Bravo
All-rounders are a valuable asset to any cricket team, and CSK has had some great ones over the years. But when it comes to the ultimate all-time playing 11, there are two names that stand out – Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja.
Dwayne Bravo is one of the best all-rounders in T20 cricket. He has scored 1,142 runs and taken 119 wickets in 105 matches for CSK. He is also a brilliant fielder and has taken some spectacular catches for the team. Bravo’s ability to perform in pressure situations and his experience make him the better choice for the ultimate all-time playing 11.
In the all-rounder department, we have two of the best players in the world. The first is the explosive West Indian all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo, who is capable of turning a game on its head with his batting, bowling, and fielding skills. Dwayne Bravo is the veteran of the T20 format. Bravo started his IPL journey with CSK’s rivals Mumbai Indians. He joined Chennai Super Kings in 2011. He has won two purple caps in IPL history when he picked up 32 and 26 wickets in the 2 seasons. He has the record of highest number of wickets taken by a bowler in any season. The all-rounder has been a consistent name in CSK’s playing 11 over the years and that’s why he has been included in Chennai Super Kings All-Time Best Playing 11.
7. Albie Morkel
When it comes to fast bowlers, CSK has had some great ones over the years. But when it comes to the ultimate all-time playing 11, there are two names that stand out – Albie Morkel and Deepak Chahar.
Albie Morkel was a key player for CSK during their early years in the IPL. He took 85 wickets in 70 matches for the team and was a consistent performer with the bat as well. He scored 974 runs for the team at an average of 27.05 and a strike rate of 141.49.
Another all-rounder to feature in CSK All-Time Best Playing 11 is Johannes Albertus Morkel. He last played for CSK in 2013 but his impact in his 6 seasons with the side was immense. He was terrific with both the bat and the ball. The South African was one of the best all-rounders in the first few seasons in the IPL. Morkel picked up 76 wickets in 78 matches for CSK.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
The second is the Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who is known for his accurate bowling, electric fielding, and explosive batting. Jadeja is another obvious name to feature in CSK All-Time Best Playing 11. He is one of the best Indian all-rounders in IPL. He started his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals. He was bought by Chennai Super Kings for INR 9.8 crore which made him the most expensive player in that year’s auction. After joining CSK, he became a crucial player of the team. Jadeja was named as the captain of CSK in IPL 2022 after MS Dhoni decided to step down.
Ravindra Jadeja is another great all-rounder who has been a consistent performer for CSK. He has scored 1,927 runs and taken 114 wickets in 108 matches for the team. He is also a brilliant fielder and has taken some stunning catches and run-outs over the years.
9. R Ashwin
CSK has always had a great spin attack, and when it comes to the ultimate all-time playing 11, there are two names that stand out – Ravichandran Ashwin and Imran Tahir.
Ravichandran Ashwin was a key player for CSK during their early years in the IPL. He took 90 wickets in 93 matches for the team and was a consistent performer. He was also a handy batsman and scored 191 runs for the team.
Imran Tahir has been a revelation for CSK since joining the team in 2018. He has taken 36 wickets in 24 matches for the team at an average of 19.33 and an economy rate of 6.66. He is also a great fielder and has taken some stunning catches for the team.
So, who makes the cut? It’s a tough call, but we have to give the nod to Ravichandran Ashwin. While Tahir is undoubtedly a great spinner, Ashwin’s experience and ability to perform in pressure situations make him the better choice for the ultimate all-time playing 11.
Ashwin is one of the few players who has earned his place in the Indian team following a string of good performances for CSK. Chennai won two consecutive IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. In those two seasons, Ashwin picked up 13 and 20 wickets respectively.
10. Deepak Chahar
Joining Ashwin, we have the Indian pacer, Deepak Chahar, who has emerged as one of the best bowlers in the IPL. Chahar’s ability to swing the ball both ways and hit the right lengths consistently make him a dangerous bowler.
Deepak Chahar has been a revelation for CSK since joining the team in 2018. He has taken 42 wickets in 34 matches for the team at an average of 28.26 and an economy rate of 7.40. He is also a great fielder and has taken some stunning catches for the team.
Chahar is a questionable selection in the CSK All-Time Best Playing 11. He started his IPL journey with Rising Pune Supergiant where he played for two seasons. Chennai Super Kings decided to buy him in the 2018 auction and in the time of only three years he made a massive impact in the team. In the IPL 2022 Mega Auction, Chennai picked Deepak Chahar for a huge amount of money. His impact in such a short period earned him a place in CSK All-Time Best Playing 11.
11. Mohit Sharma
CSK has always been short of good fast bowlers. Mohit Sharma came to Chennai Super Kings in 2013 after strong performances in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy. He made an instant impact when he picked up 20 wickets in his debut season for the Yellow Army. Mohit Sharma has picked 91 wickets in 85 matches in his IPL career.
Honorable mentions – players who just missed out
While we have selected the ultimate all-time playing 11 for CSK, there were some players who just missed out. These include the likes of Faf Du Plessis, Mathew Hayden, Dwayne Smith, Imran Tahir all of whom have been key players for CSK over the years.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – the ultimate all-time playing 11 for CSK. While it was a tough task to narrow down the list of players, we believe that this team has the perfect balance of experience, talent, and ability to perform in pressure situations. Who would you have included in your ultimate all-time playing 11 for CSK? Let us know in the comments!
