5 Reasons why CSK is the most successful team in IPL
May 8, 2016 at 2:16 PM
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which is the suspended team of the IPL as their team official was found guilty of spot-fixing, is the most successful IPL team ever. But, how do they manage to be the most consistent team in the format which is more unpredictable than two formats of the game? It is not luck that brings you consistency in a format where anybody can win the match in their day. Only one batsman or bowler can change the course of the game. So how do Chennai Super Kings manage it?
CSK had won two IPL trophies and one Champions League T20. In IPL’s nine years history, CSK reached the final four times and semifinal twice.
A stable coaching unit
The Chennai Super Kings were mentored by an experienced coaching unit and this unit has always been with CSK.
Stephen Fleming is the nucleus of the Chennai Super Kings and he has been an integral part of the since the very first edition of the tournament. Fleming along with Steve Rixon and Andy Bichel from an excellent coaching combination.
The trio was new to coaching sphere. Fleming was retired in 2007 but they knew what to do and they have been immaculate decision takes over the last a few years in the IPL auctions.
Only utility players
Chennai Super Kings have never gone for fancy names like Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga, Keiron Pollard and Glenn Maxwell. CSK was a franchise of wisdom and coach Stephen Fleming was a shrewd captain himself so he went for those players who can accommodate in their philosophy of cricket.
They went for players who the need and fit the bill. These players were hungry to perform and in low in stature. Players like Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis are star players, unlike the great Gayle and Malinga that helped CSK to maintain the unity of the team and win matches consistently.
CSK in each edition of the IPL keeps intact their core group of players. Their four foreigners were in the first couple of editions were Mike Hussey, Mathew Hayden and Faf du Plessis. These three did the opening job quite well. In the bowling department Ben Hilfenhaus, Makhya Ntini, Dougie Bollinger, Nuwan Kulasekara have been CSK’s go to bowlers over the years.
Dwayne Bravo, Chris Morris, Thilan Thushara and Albie Morkel are others who have done well for the Chennai-based franchise. They are not big boys of cricket but could rise to the occasion whenever needed.
Keeping Indian Players at bay has always been Chennai Super Kings‘ great strength
The main reason behind Chennai Super Kings’ success is because of the Indian talent on disposal.
When other teams ran behind big names of cricket, CSK emphasized on picking the right domestic talent. Suresh Raina, the most consistent among the IPL batsman, was picked by CSK. Besides him, CSK bought players like MS Dhoni, Murali Vijay, Subramaniam Badrinath, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja. Those are big names for a T20 format. Here is where other teams fail to score.
Keeping Chennai players also helped them a lot.
As most teams struggle to get a good Indian spinner, Chennai Super Kings have the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja who win matches on own. Not to forget their smiling assassin in Lakshmipathi Balaji who spent his prime days at Chepauk.
Suresh Raina at no.3 have been a consistent performer scoring over 400 runs every season How lucky have they been? And then comes in MS Dhoni. Again, how lucky have they been?
Chennai Super Kings has always been a great side with eleven good players instead of a good side with three or four great players. This season, Chennai Super Kings strategy has undergone a slight revamp, thanks to the injury to Dwayne Bravo. Now they have two explosive openers, no umbrella man aka Badrinath, no potent all-rounder in the playing XI. Still, so far they have been punching above their weight.
Emphasis on allrounders
looking back, Chennai has always laid enormous emphasis on all-rounders, from the explosive all-around skills of Albie Morkel and Andrew Flintoff to the handy all round skills of Joginder Sharma. This is a strategic plan for the franchise, and it is paying very good dividends.
5)Winning helps
Played-95
won- 57
lost-36
tied- 0
NR- 2
win percentage= 60%
when a team is used to winning, naturally, the aura exuded by the team unit as such is , something else.
The great west Indian team of the 70’s,80’s and the Aussie juggernaut from the 90’s, all of them, have gone on record saying that winning multiplies the joy, and brings about a unique bonding, that “not winning” cannot match 🙂
and of course, the money does not hurt either.