IPL 2019: Will the Chennai Super Kings Rule for Another Year?

Of course, now we have the reigning champions, the Chennai Super Kings. They will be kicking off their IPL 2019 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Will they win title number 4 or will someone stop them?

Team Profile

Chennai are one of the most successful teams in IPL history alongside the Mumbai Indians. Right from the first year of the IPL itself, Chennai were considered one of the favourites. Sure enough, they were in the final in 2008 but the unthinkable happened, Rajasthan beat them to win the inaugural title. It was basically David vs Goliath with the Chennai Super Kings team being the latter.

A year later, they reached as high as the playoffs. However, in 2010, they managed to go the distance and become the champions. In 2011, they did it again and staved off a challenge from the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then, they have not finished lower than 3rd in the IPL in every season.

However, disaster soon struck when the team was dragged into a corruption scandal. They were not the only team affected, as the Rajasthan Royals were dragged down as well. Both teams were suspended for two years and replaced by two brand new teams.

In 2018, on their comeback years, it was the Chennai Super Kings squad who made it a successful one. The yellow army managed to win their third IPL title and tie with the Mumbai Indians.

Background and History

Like most of the IPL 2019 teams, the Chennai Super Kings are one of the founding teams. Straightaway, they established themselves as the favourites and were a force to be reckoned with even when they did not win.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has helmed the side right from inception and he has been an effective leader. In IPL 2019 as well, Dhoni will be captaining the side, his 10th season as CSK captain.

As mentioned before, the Chennai Super Kings team has never finished lower than 3rd in the IPL. However, being a successful team, they were no stranger to controversy either.

Chennai are also the only team to have ever defended their title. In other words, they are the first team to win back-to-back IPL titles. Following a runner’s up in 2008, they were 3rd in 2009, champions in 2010 and 2011, back-to-back runners up in 2012 and 2013, third in the playoffs in 2014, runners up in 2015, banned in 2016 and 2017, and finally, champions in 2018. So, what will IPL 2019 will bring the Dhoni-led side?

According to a BCCI clause, “No administrator could have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in the matches or events conducted by the board”. However, the then BCCI treasurer and vice-chairman, N Srinivasan, was appointed the de facto owner of CSK. Obviously, many perceived this development as a blatant violation of this clause.

An amendment of the clause read, “No administrator shall have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in any of the events of the BCCI, excluding IPL, Champions League and Twenty20”. After an appeal was rejected for a second time, things spiralled out of control.

Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was soon arrested for betting on IPL matches. When the mess cleared itself up, the end result was CSK and RR being banned for two years.

Transfers

With regard to transfers, the Chennai Super Kings team IPL 2019, abstained from transferring any players. They also didn’t budge on other players who were on the transfer list. CSK, KKR and RR are the only teams who have not used the transfer option.

Key Players

The gigantic X factor in the team is the presence of MS Dhoni once again. Captain Cool is always a danger with the willow and can be devastating when he needs to. Dhoni’s presence also provides a clear sense of order within the team. He has the capability to rally his troops effectively and bolster the side when they are going a little wayward.

Other key players are Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis and many more. Also, another player who has been touted to perform well is England youngster Sam Billings.

Availability

Although South Africa are playing against Sri Lanka, the Chennai Super Kings squad 2019 should be unaffected as Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi are not playing in the 3-match T20 series. However, they could miss the services of Sam Billings and David Willey when England leave for their ODI matches later on.

Strengths and Weaknesses

With Kedar Jadhav as a new inclusion to the yellow army, it adds another piece of armor to the batting arsenal. Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja and Shane Watson are also on hand to take CSK to the finish.

On the bowling aspect of the team, it was one place where they struggled slightly last year. Bravo actually ended IPL 2018 with the worst economy figures and he will be hoping to change that in IPL 2019.

Chennai Super Kings Squad and Expected 11