CSK All Time Best Playing 11:
Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, MS Dhoni (captain & wicket keeper), Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Deepak Chahar, Mohit Sharma.
MATTHEW HAYDEN is one of the legends of Australian Cricket. He played for the first 3 years for CSK (from 2008 to 2010). He was absolutely BRUTAL at the top. He won the Orange Cap in the year 2009. He was piling runs for fun at an average of more than 50 and a Strike Rate of 144. He scored more than 550 runs in that season. With the short mongoose bat, he played some of the great innings. Watson wasn’t far though from making into the 11 but since he played for CSK purely as a batsman, the pendulum swung in Hayden’s favor. In other words, Brutality wins over Elegance.
MICHAEL HUSSEY to join his Aussie mate to open the batting for CSK. He is the leading run-scorer among the overseas for CSK. He played around 6 years for CSK (from 2008 to 2013) and came back again for a year in 2015. He was absolutely sensational in the year 2013 scoring more than 700 runs at an average of more than 50. He was the Orange Cap holder in that season. He provides solidity at the top with his shot-making and can play second fiddle especially if Hayden gets going from the other end. These two had a great time for CSK in the past and hence, making the cut in the All Time Best 11 of CSK.
SURESH RAINA is a no-brainer. There’s no debate here at all with giving him a slot in at No.3. After all, he is the leading run-scorer in the team with more than 5300 runs (second-most leading individual run-scorer in the history of IPL). He has played the most matches in the yellow jersey. He is an IPL man and barely fails in any of the seasons. With his stellar records and stats, he can even make the cut in the list of All Time IPL 11 with ease. A must inclusion indeed. He has served CSK more than that of any other player. He is pretty decent with the bat and can give you a couple of overs with the ball too. And of course, a brilliant fielder to have in the team.
S BADRINATH is a gutsy middle-order batsman who has done wonders for CSK in the first six years. He is a rock solid middle-order batsman who provides stability to CSK’s lineup. He played in various positions for CSK over the years and had been consistent enough to bail them out of difficult situations at times. He is a perfect No. 4 player to anchor and rebuild the innings especially when the top order fails. He possesses the quality of holding one end which paves the way for the big hitters to take on the bowlers at the back end overs. He was consistent with the bat for CSK and hence, makes the cut in the All Time 11.
MS DHONI is an All Time great and one of the finest captain cricket has ever produced to the world. CSK belongs to him. He is an assured player in the list of All Time best 11 of CSK even after decades. His presence is mandatory in the All Time 11. Without him, CSK is incomplete. He led the team to 3 IPL Titles and helped his team to reach 8 IPL finals which is the most by any franchise. He is the leader, finisher, and a mentor as well. He is certainly the ”BEST”.
ALBIE MORKEL is one of the overseas in this list. He is an all-rounder who played for CSK during the first 6 years of IPL. He is a great asset to have on the team. He can give full 4 overs of bowling and can hit big too. Who can forget the game against RCB in IPL 2012 where he faced his first ball in the 19th over with CSK required 43 off 12 balls. RCB were the favourites and then this happened; 4,6,4,6,2,6. He scored 28 runs in the 19th over which brought down the equation to 15 off the last over and guess the bowler who was taken to the cleaners? It was Virat Kohli. That was some striking from the big lad. He has got more than 90 wickets and scored more than 900 runs for CSK.
DWAYNE BRAVO is the other overseas all-rounder who makes the cut in the All Time 11 of CSK. He has been brilliant in all the 3 departments over the years especially with the ball. He is a death overs specialist in the team. He has also shown his batting skills quite a few times and took some unbelievable catches too. He played more than 100 matches for CSK (most by any overseas player in the team) and took his tally to 118 in the wickets column. Clearly, an easy choice to add in this list.
RAVINDRA JADEJA is yet another all-rounder in this list. With more than 1000 runs, 90 wickets and some outstanding fielding; this guy has given a lot to CSK over the years. 4 overs in a T20 match, big-hitting skills, among the best in the world when it comes to fielding. What else you need from an All-Rounder? Surely nothing. He is a complete package.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the frontline spinner in this list. He served CSK for 7 years (from 2009 to 2015) by taking 120 wickets and quite some runs with the bat too. He has also improved his batting skills to some extent. With him batting at No. 9, there is a luxury of batting depth in the team. He can bowl in the powerplay and also at the back end overs and had been successful over the years. Carrom Ball is his go-to delivery. This guy has varieties in his armory. He is an off-spinner but, bowls quite a few leg-spin too at times.
DEEPAK CHAHAR is one of the pacers in the list. Although, he played only 2 years for CSK (2018 & 2019); this guy makes the cut for the All Time 11 of CSK mainly due to his brilliant ability to swing the ball both ways. Opening spell with the new ball, two slips, an outswinger, slip cordon in action. A classic test match dismissal which is a rare sight to watch in T20. This guy has some potential in him.
MOHIT SHARMA is the last man on this list. He has grown well under the leadership of MSD during the period 2013 to 2015. He has quite a few options with the back of the hand slower delivery being his best delivery. He can bowl knuckleballs and can also deliver deadly yorkers at the death.
Some Notable names who missed out in All Time playing 11:
- Shane Watson
- Dwayne Smith
- Brendon McCullum
- Murali Vijay