IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings' journey so far this season

The Chennai Super Kings made their much-awaited comeback to the league this season, after serving a two-year suspension due to the alleged involvement of their owners in the spot-fixing scandal. In the three matches played so far, they have won two and lost one.

The fans could not have asked for a better opening game of the season, as the two most consistent and successful sides met each other at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai - a repeat of the 2010, 2013 and 2015 IPL finals. The Super Kings recorded their first win of the season by defeating the defending champions, Mumbai Indians by just one wicket in the penultimate delivery of the match.

It was Dwayne Bravo's show all the way, as his brilliant 68(30) ensured Chennai's win after a slow start to the innings. The Indian all-rounder, Kedar Jadhav too played a crucial knock of 24*(22), which included an unbelievable six that sealed the game for Chennai.

Jadhav, who sustained a grade 2 hamstring injury during the game, was ruled out of the entire season. The Chennai outfit then announced that he would be replaced by the English all-rounder, David Willey.

The Chennai Super Kings played their second game of the season at home against the Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders. That was another humdinger as the Super Kings chased down the target of 203 in 19.5 overs and won the match by five wickets.

Sam Billings, the English wicket-keeper batsman who was making his CSK debut played a scintillating innings of 56 (23) and ensured Chennai's record chase. He was awarded the Man of the match for his heroics in his debut in the Chennai colors.

KXIP vs CSK

The Super Kings encountered Ravichandran Ashwin's Kings XI Punjab away from home in their third encounter of this season. It was the first ever match that Mr. IPL Suresh Raina had missed for CSK in his entire IPL career. The calf muscle injury he sustained while playing against Kolkata at Chepauk ruled him out of this fixture.

Chasing a massive 198 runs for victory, Chennai's chase was anchored by their charismatic captain, MS Dhoni who scored a superb 79*(44), when every other batsman except Ambati Rayudu failed to score big. Eventually, Chennai fell short of the target by just four runs after finishing at 193-5 in 20 overs - the first defeat for Dhoni's men this season.

Next up, the Men in yellow meet the inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals at their 'adopted home' of Pune on April 20, 2018.