Look back at 2010 (the start) and you’ll remember Chennai Superkings lifting the IPL trophy for the first time at the D.Y. Patil Sports stadium. There was joy, spirit, and enthusiasm all around as the Yellow army marched together. 2011 was just a repeat telecast of the previous season but the best title-winning campaign Chennai has would definitely be their win in 2018, a season where the squad’s ability was challenged in their comeback year.
Not in terms of titles or anything to do with numbers, just a general outlook says that Chennai Superkings is by far the best t20 team of the decade when variables like consistency and passion are considered. Following are the points that make this team the best :
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1) Steadiness:
The talking points don’t only include the three title-winning campaigns but also consider the times CSK reached the finals. The team made it to the finals in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019, not to forget the yellow brigade making it to the playoffs every season. The team has a 61.28 win percentage in ten seasons with 100 wins in 165 matches.
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2) Core squad:
One thing that differentiates a bigger franchise with the others is their long term investment in players. MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Ravichandran Ashwin (until 2018) were the regular faces, donning the bright yellow jerseys at M.A.Chidambaram stadium, Chennai. This retention of the core every year does not only strengthen the bond but also creates loyalty amongst the fans.
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3) Records:
The yellow army makes one of the largest fan bases in the league. CSK has made more appearances in the playoffs when compared to any other side in the Indian Premier League. They also boast the highest win percentage in the history of this league. Chennai defended a 116 run total against Kings XI Punjab in 2009 which is another record.
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4) Leadership:
The only team to have a constant leadership in all the seasons of the Indian Premier League is Chennai Superkings. MS Dhoni has captained the side for 151 matches and his deputy Suresh Raina had to lead only six times in the ten seasons they have participated in. Any quality side could tumble if the leadership is flawed but MS Dhoni never let that happen. The 2018 campaign can be a fair example where the skipper’s understanding of the game and players resulted in such a memorable season.
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5) Raw talent:
Ambati Rayudu was promoted as the opener in his very first season with the club and the batsman didn’t disappoint by becoming the first player to cross the 400 run mark that season. Rayudu scored 602 runs that year at an average of 43.00. Deepak Chahar also owes his international debut to CSK when the team management decided to introduce him as a new ball pacer. These are just examples in the list that includes veterans like Ravichandran Ashwin, who during his stint at CSK proved his worth.
