The Chennai Super Kings are one of the most successful teams in IPL history and will be starting out this year’s campaign with high hopes of winning a record sixth title.
Last victorious in 2023, Chennai will be hoping to bounce back after a poor 2024 campaign where they were unable to defend their title, crashing out in the group stage.
With that hiccup behind them, one of the tournament’s greatest franchises will be expecting to have a deep run in this year’s event. Boasting an experienced squad, M.S Dhoni will once again defy Father Time and take his place behind the stumps. Dhoni has been an ever present for every one of CSK’s IPL victories and the Indian great will hope to add one more trophy to his haul.
Here is everything that you need to know about the Chennai Super Kings.
Who are the Super Kings?
The Chennai Super Kings were one of the first eight franchises to enter the IPL back when the tournament was first created in 2008.
Led by the inspirational figure of M.S Dhoni it didn’t take long for Chennai to win their first title with victory coming in 2009. Regarded as a powerhouse of the tournament, they would successfully defend their title in 2010 but then wouldn’t taste success again until eight years later.
It’s fair to say that the franchise has enjoyed somewhat of a chequered past. Between the years of 2015 and 2017, CSK were unable to field a team due to allegations that their ownership were involved in match fixing, those allegations would prove to be founded.
Not only did the overall value of the team diminish overnight but several star players left the team to ply their trades elsewhere.
With the future of Chennai very much in doubt, new ones were found for the team back in 2014 and they are now majority owned by India Cement Shareholders Trust.
Reinstated into the league back in 2018, a host of their star players returned and with Dhoni back on board and leading the side, Chennai’s comeback was confirmed as they would go onto land a third IPL title.
Since that glorious day in 2018, further titles have arrived in 2021 and 2023. Tied for the most IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians with five overall victories, Chennai supporters will hope that this year is that they cement themselves as the competition’s top side once more.
Where do the Super Kings play?
Chennai play their home games at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium, otherwise known as the Chepauk Stadium.
Opened in 1916, only Eden Gardens is older than the Chepauk Stadium and it has played host to several memorable moments.
The host venue of three IPL finals, around 39,000 fans can be packed into the stands and due to the old infrastructure of the ground, the fans feel right on top of the action.
It is regarded as a very spin friendly surface and over the years the Super Kings have been able to deploy and use spin to great effect. This year is no different and both Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja will be expected to play leading roles.
Despite missing out on a playoff spot last year, Chennai were still a formidable force at home, winning five of their seven home matches, it was their away form that would ultimately cost them. If they can perform better on the road this season, Chennai will be one of the teams to beat.
Who will the Super Kings be playing this year?
Each of the teams in this year’s IPL will play fourteen matches in the initial league phase.
With the ten teams in the tournament being placed in two separate groups, the Super Kings are in Group A and will play against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and RCB twice.
They will also play their rivals the Mumbai Indians twice and the Delhi Capitals, Gujurat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and the Sunrisers once.
There are certainly never easy games in the IPL and the Super Kings seem to have been handed a particularly tough set of games. The four matches against the Knight Riders and Indians will be incredibly tough and will be pivotal if the Super Kings are to meet their expectations for the season.
Who are the stars of the Sunrisers Hyderabad?
The beauty of the IPL is that games can be won in a variety of ways. Whereas a team like the Sunrisers rely on brute power to bludgeon their way to victories, the Super Kings are a lot more measured in their approach.
Likely to open the batting are the duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra, whilst both are exceptional players, their strike rates aren’t as high as other opening duos and it’s rare that the Super Kings get off to blistering starts and it’s definitely an area that opponents try to target.
Down the middle order is where the power comes in, as Shivam Dube, Ravi Jadeja and Sam Curran can all give the ball a crack and of course there's M.S Dhoni.
Although Dhoni only saves his cricket for the IPL there is still no finer finisher in the game and despite being well into his 40s, Dhoni is coming off a season where his strike rate was above 200.
All the Super Kings need to do is be in with a chance of victory and more often than not, it’s Dhoni who can get his team over the line.
As we have already mentioned, the one thing that the Super Kings rely on is spin. No stadium spins more than the Chepauk Stadium and in Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja they have two of the best in the business.
Able to take vital wickets and stem the flow of runs, if Chennai are to be successful it will need to be off the backs of their two talismanic spinners.
What do the bookmakers say, and what is our verdict?
It’s fair to say that this year’s IPL is wide open but it’s hard to look past the chances of the Chennai Super Kings.
Containing a tremendous blend of experience and youth, plenty within this Super Kings squad know how to get the job done and when it comes to winning tight games few have often been able to do it than Chennai.
With a squad that is perfectly designed to meet their home ground, Chennai should be a tough nut to crack at home but whether they boast the necessary power to be successful on the road remains a key question mark.
Few teams in the IPL carry the weight of expectation that the Super Kings do and anything other than an overall victory has to be considered as a failure. Last year it was their away form that cost them, as they were only able to win two of their seven road games.
They will hope to be more streetwise this time around and due to their experience and quality, they have to be regarded as one of the title favourites.
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Tom Gibson
Tom Gibson, 33, possesses a keen interest in cricket combined with expertise in betting. Based in Newcastle, he is well-acquainted with the dynamics of the game and the betting world. With numerous years analyzing cricket matches and odds, Tom offers a unique perspective on the intersection of the sport and betting strategies