4 current Chennai Super Kings players who have previously beaten them in IPL Final

In the Indian Premier League's history, Chennai Super Kings have been a part of the final on eight of the 11 occasions (including 2018 IPL). This season, upon their return from a two-year hiatus, they are back in the final.

MS Dhoni, who has had the best season in terms of personal numbers, has led CSK on a run that has seen them beat every other side at least once in the tournament. His team, though retained the core of the side that ruled the IPL for years, has quite a few new recruits who have played a crucial role in their journey to the final.

Here are four such players who are a crucial part of the current CSK set-up but have gotten the better of the franchise in at least one of the previous 10 IPL finals.

---

#4 Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu, previously of Mumbai Indians, was bought by CSK for Rs. 2.20 Crores in the IPL auction. Naturally a middle-order batsman, he was sent to open the batting for Chennai, along with Shane Watson and that move benefited both, the player and the franchise.

With 586 runs, he has been the side's top-scorer in the tournament. Rayudu, however, has been on the other side of the divide in a final as well and has finished on the winning side twice.

In 2013, he scored 37 runs for MI in the final which saw CSK lose by 25 runs. Again in 2015, Rayudu played a handy 36-run knock to help Mumbai cross the 200-run mark. Chennai lost that final by 41 runs.

#3 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan picked two wickets in both his IPL final wins against CSK

Like Rayudu, Harbhajan was an integral part of Mumbai Indians in all of their title-winning seasons. However, in 2018, he was bought by CSK for his base price of Rs. 2 Crores. Though the off-spinner hasn't been at his best, he has managed to pick seven wickets in 13 matches.

Harbhajan was part of both the finals where Mumbai got the better of CSK, in 2013 and 2015. In the first of those two finals, Bhajji scored 14 runs with the bat and scalped two wickets, giving away only 14 runs in three overs.

In 2015 as well, he bagged two wickets and hit a six in his three-ball stay on the crease in the first innings.

#2 Shane Watson

Watson was named the Man of the Tournament in 2008

The Australian all-rounder played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last two seasons of the IPL. The Virat Kohli-led team chose against retaining him and CSK ended up buying him at a price of Rs. 4 Crores in the auction.

Watson repaid the faith shown on him by the Chennai-based franchise as he scored 438 runs in 14 innings for them and picked six wickets as well.

The all-rounder, however, has gotten the better of CSK previously in an IPL final. In the inaugural edition of the tournament, Watson was an important part of Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals which defeated Chennai in the final by three wickets.

Watson had picked the crucial wicket of Suresh Raina in the first innings and then returned in the second innings with the bat to play a handy 28-run knock. He was also named the Man of the Tournament in 2008.

#1 Ravindra Jadeja

In 2008 Jadeja was a part of the Rajasthan Royals side which beat all odds to win the first edition of the cash-rich league

One of the three players retained by CSK before the 2018 IPL auction, Ravindra Jadeja hasn't been at his best this season. In 15 matches, he has 10 wickets and only 89 runs to show for.

In 2008, however, Jadeja was a part of the Rajasthan Royals side which beat all odds to win the first edition of the cash-rich league. In the final against CSK, the all-rounder didn't bowl and was dismissed for a golden duck.

His side though went on to clinch the thrilling final which was played at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.