IPL-7 on it’s way, taking a look at Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings undoubtedly the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League. A team led by the most successful Indian Skipper MS Dhoni coached by former New Zealand captain Stefan Fleming has undoubtedly dominated every season of the IPL. They go inn in all Yellow’s and a tiger imprinted on their jerseys the team plays like one too, Kings of IPL. Every year in the pre-season analysis one can’t help but declare them prime contenders.(also read Top 10 players to watch out for in IPL7)

Past performances in IPL:Champions in two consecutive seasons, the record of reaching the knock-out of every season of makes CSK special.

Season | Place

2008   –     Runners-up

2009   –     Semifinalists

2010   –     Champions

2011    –    Champions

2012   –     Runners-up

2013   –     Runners-up

Strengths:The biggest strength got CSK is their coolness and MS Dhoni. Every other year you would see them in the league stage and feel CSK won’t make it through this time. But, to surprise everyone and show their real mettle they qualify when they require winning all their games. Taking every game to the last over/ ball and finishing with a big hit is typical MS Dhoni style now.R Ashwin, Suresh Raina have been the Pillars of CSK over the years, the team would look up to them this time around as well.

Weaknesses:The major drawback is their bowling especially death bowling. The CSK have always lacked a pacer who could pick them wickets and restrict run flow. If they can find someone that consistent with the ball CSK would be unstoppable. In a pressure game your batsmen might just submit to the opposition bowling this is when it pains the most.

X Factors:

MS Dhoni: Talk of X factors and MS Dhoni surely comes into picture, one of the best finishers cricket has seen, India’s best wicket-keeper, the most successful Indian and IPL skipper. What more does a franchise expects a player to offer. MS Dhoni in the previous season showcased few of the best finishing knocks with breathtaking action scoring 63*runs from 19 balls. Dhoni in 96 IPL matches has scored 2244 runs at an average of 38 with the strike rate of 141. Add to it 47 catches behind the wicket and 19 stampings and you know how vital is he for the team.(also read Wisden’s Five Cricketer of the Year)

Suresh Raina:Raina is the other name of a live wire, when he walks in with a bat in his hand expect the scoring rate to shoot up, he can hit any ball to any part of the ground planting sixes at will. If it isn’t his day with the bat he will come in with his part time slow bowling and stop runs and pick a wicket or two. Both undone Raina at least stops 20 odd runs with his fielding and the energy he surges in the squad is mind blowing. He scored 548 runs in IPL 6, the player to have played most number of IPL games also is the highest run getter in history of IPL with 2802 run is 99 matches with 1 ton and 18 half’s also has 21 wickets to his credit.

R Ashwin:Ravichandran Ashwin MS Dhoni’s to go man for last 6 years not only in IPL now also for the Indian team. Ashwin is that intelligent bowler who beats the batsmen in the mind itself. 18 IPL season 6 games he took 15 wickets and 64 wickets in the 67 games he has played giving runs at an economy rate of 6.34. Ashwin has been an asset to CSK and is the reason the franchise has retained him in all these years.

Ravindra Jadeja:Jadeja now well known as Sir Jadeja, or SRJ in the social media does justify the title on a few occasions turning games head on. Jaddu played 18 games in the last IPL scored 201 and took 13 wickets, he played a few match winning knocks alongside skipper MS Dhoni to help CSK get to the finals. His IPL career stats are 1105 runs and 39 wickets in 78 games has proved to be a real X factor for the Chennai franchise and is the reason he is still in it.

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

Cricket Tracker Says:CSK will again be the likeliest team to win the IPL crown. A more aggressive batting line-up would ensure them depending very little on their bowlers, who have been their weakness. Hit apart the CSK bowlers and you will still loose with the kind of batsmen they have, a batting failure and you can count them off. CSK need their bowlers especially pacers to click and come good in the power play and death over’s how long will Ashwin’s flicker remain a mystery. The team though a few weak links is among the most balanced and Captain cool gives them the edge over others.(also read KXIP team preview)