IPL: Chennai Super Kings' All-time Best XI

Middle-order

Suresh Raina(Vice-Captain)

Suresh Raina holds all IPL records

Matches – 147, Inns – 143, Runs – 4144, Avg – 35, SR – 139

Suresh Raina holds all the records in IPL. He is the highest run-getter in IPL, holds the record for most number of catches and most number of IPL appearances.

Raina has been CSK’s permanent No. 3 from Day 1. He has the game to annul any early loss of wickets and to optimize the run-scoring during the powerplay.

He also has the temperament to play the long innings by T20 standards and to take his team through. Once settled, Raina is unstoppable.

Raina’s best IPL innings came against Kings XI Punjab in the second qualifying final in IPL 2014. Chasing 226 for a win, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early.

Raina faced the third ball of the innings and got out to the first ball of the seventh over. In between Raina galloped 87 runs off 25 balls with 12 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 348 before he got run-out.

Raina would be the ideal No 3 for any T20 team, leave alone for CSK.

Subramaniam Badrinath

S. Badrinath - The trouble-shooter for CSK

Matches – 95, Inns – 67, Runs – 1441, Avg - 31, SR – 119

For CSK, Badrinath was playing the role of steadying the ship whenever the team lost early wickets. Badrinath used to arrest the slide and improve the scoring rates with proper cricketing shots.

The magnitude of Badrinath’s contribution to CSK could be gauged by the fact that from 2008 to 2012, he had played 84 consecutive matches for CSK. Apart from a stubborn batsman, Badrinath was a safe fielder too.

Badrinath had a wonderful IPL in 2010 and 2011 when he scored 356 and 396 runs respectively. Incidentally, CSK won the IPL trophy during those 2 years.

Badrinath’s best innings in IPL was against Kings XI in Dharmasala in IPL 2010. It was a must-win match for CSK to progress into the playoffs. As always, Badrinath was sent in when CSK lost two wickets for 27 in pursuit of a stiff target of 193.

Though Badrinath took his time to settle down, he made up for that later by scoring 53 off 36 balls. Due to the efforts of Badrinath and MS Dhoni, CSK won that match and later went on to win the trophy for the first time.

Badrinath is the No 4 batsman in this team.

MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicket-Keeper)

Dhoni - The undisputed King of CSK

M – 145, I – 131, Runs – 3441, Avg – 42, SR – 141, Cat – 70, St – 26

MS Dhoni has been the brand identity for CSK all along. CSK is the most popular and most followed team in IPL all because of the presence of one MS Dhoni in the team.

The Chennai franchise was fortunate to pocket Dhoni in the inaugural IPL auction which escalated the image of the franchise to greater heights year after year.

From 2008 to 2015, Dhoni had crossed the 300 run mark in every edition of IPL except in 2010. More than the number of runs, it was the leadership qualities in him which stood out. He was adept at operating his overseas and local resources to the optimum level.

Even an overseas International Captain like a Faf du Plessis has acknowledged Dhoni’s role in developing his leadership skills just by observing him handling matters.

Dhoni had his best IPL season last year when he amazed 455 runs at an average of 76 and strike rate of 150. He did his finisher’s job to perfection when he remained not out on 9 of the 15 innings that he batted.

Dhoni is the undisputed captain and wicket-keeper of this team.