Chennai Super Kings: Roaring their way to Victory

Yellow is the new Blue

The Indian Premier League 2011 is just two matches away from what has been a fantastic and spectacular event for the last 7 weeks. It truly has been the “Manoranjan Ka Baap”. But as Dhoni would put it,”Well of course,at the end of the day,it was not possible without the performances of the 10 teams”. Yeah well he is right. But there has to be something special in the top 4 teams that have made it to the qualifiers for they have made it here.

Even when there are just 2 matches and 3 teams to battle left to battle out in the tournament, there is one formidable side that is sitting at the Lion’s den, awaiting its prey. And the best part is, every time this year it has waited in its den, it has always had a sumptuous meal. Chennai Super Kings has been a very unnerving side for the fourth year in the running. This is the only team to have made it to the last 4 in all the editions of the IPL. What does it take for a side to be so consistent for such a long journey makes everyone to sit up and watch?

When the IPL auctions were held for the first time in 2008, there were just 2 teams out of the 8, that did not have any icon players. It was a very tepid start to something which has turned to be so huge today with Shane Warne being the first one to be bought by Rajasthan Royals, to be slotted in as their icon player. But the whole auction became a whirlwind,when the Indian skipper MS Dhoni‘s name was picked and auctioned. He was sold for a 1.5 million dollar bill to the CSK. Little did people realise that here was the icon player who would win the World Cup for his nation.

As with the auctions held in 2011, there were 2 new franchisees, new managements and well, more money and bigger pool of players. Only 2 teams out of the 8, retained a maximum of 4 players, from the previous editions. And out of these 2,only one wanted to retain all their players from the erstwhile editions via auction. Chennai retained almost the same squad,that had won them great laurels and the championship once in the last 3 years.

2011 has been a fantastic year for Indian Cricket fans and more importantly Chennai fans. All matches that have been played in Chennai in this year’s IPL and the home team has never seemed to have disappointed their fans. The CSK team has won all the 7 matches played in Chepauk this year, and well, the finals are slated to be played here. It reminds me of what Andrew Strauss recently said, “To beat India in India bigger than winning the Ashes”. Let us look at what makes CSK the side to beat in this tournament.

Captain Cool

It does take someone really level-headed at the helm to guide a team through to its very end. And Chennai have none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who according to Sachin Tendulkar, is the best captain he has played under, do the job for them as the skipper. He is more than just a leader for them. Never forget what he brings to the plate as a fantastic keeper and terrorizing batsman. And with the skipper getting back to his attacking form, the bowlers better be vigilant.

Local talent

Well there is little one can do when you do not have the team to back. But Dhoni is not left alone in his cause to continue to be dominating. The local talent(to be read as Tamil Nadu players) has been fantastic for this franchise. Be it the dashing opener in Murali Vijay,the sheet anchor in Subramaniam Badrinath,the attacking Srikanth Anirudha and the bowler touted to be the best off spinner India is going to have, Ravichandran Ashwin, have all been brilliant over the 4 seasons in the running. Already 3 of them have made it to the Indian team and Ashwin has become a regular in the limited overs squad.

Indian talent

The CSK team has a great combination of a lot of young Indian players. Suresh Raina, the unassuming batsman from Uttar Pradesh, has been a prolific run getter in this tournament, scoring more than 400 runs in each of the 4 editions. Shadab Jakati from Goa has also been a revelation for the team. Wriddhiman Saha,brought as a reserve wicketkeeper, has proved his salt as a batsman,in the few chances he has got. The squad had and has a lot more local players who have played and a few who are waiting in the wings to perform for their champion side.

Overseas talent

Last but not least, the overseas talent in this team, like for most teams in this tournament, have been amazing season after season. The Aussies Mike Hussey,Doug Bollinger,Matthew Hayden(for the first 3 seasons), Kiwis on and off the field in the likes of Stephen Fleming,Tim Southee and Steve Rixon and not to forget the Proteas and the Lankans. They have in this season brought in some Carribean flavour as well in the form of Dwayne Bravo who is already showing his worth. The Chennai outfit has gotten the best out of the fantastic overseas pool of players they have.

Home Advantage

Every franchise has a home ground to them, but there is something special to the one the CSK team has. Chepauk to them has been a fantastic ground and, this year, one could call it a fortress. It has never been breached so far this season. The crowd has been amazing and have been referred to as the “knowledgeable crowd”. The streets of Adayar,T.Nagar,Triplicane etc. have been really supportive to their team.

With all this and more, Chennai Super Kings, have proved why they have been and are the side to beat. Now with the last two matches to be played at Chepauk, and CSK to play the finals there, we will definitely be treated to something fantastic in the days to come. Whistle Podu!!!