IPL: Chennai Super Kings' All-time Best XI

All-Rounders

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo - The positive energy in the team

Matches – 77, Inns – 55, Runs – 847, Avg – 28, SR – 137, Wkts – 93, Economy – 8.43

In terms of statistics, Dwayne Bravo is the best all-rounder in IPL history. Dwayne Bravo generates positive energy around him.

He could land some lusty blows with the bat towards the end of the innings, could bowl his yorkers at will as the designated death bowler, could field like a superman and could exhibit his dancing skills as well by way of celebration.

With his magic and antics on the field, Bravo could lift the morale of his teammates irrespective of the match situation. For his 32 wickets in 2013, Bravo got the purple cap.

No one could forget Bravo’s effort with the bat in the opening match of last year’s IPL against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. Mumbai had the match in the bag when CSK needed 51 runs in 21 balls with two wickets in hand, one of them being Bravo.

Bravo played an amazing inning of 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes. Suddenly CSK came from nowhere to win that match by 1 wicket. Aside from this incredible innings, Bravo has also contributed to a number of CSK wins with his cameos at the end.

Bravo had a part in almost all of CSK’s close wins either with the bat or the ball. He is the evergreen all-rounder in this CSK team.

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja - The Indian all-rounder in the team

Matches 86, Inns – 60, Runs – 759, Avg – 21, SR – 127, Wkts – 64, Economy – 7.73

Ravindra Jadeja joined the CSK team in IPL 2012 and since then he has been a regular member of the team. Like Bravo and Suresh Raina, Jadeja is an excellent fielder, effective left-arm spinner and could use the long handle with the bat.

In his very second match for CSK against Deccan Chargers in 2012, Jadeja made his presence felt with an all-round performance which won the game for CSK. Promoted up the order at No. 5, Jadeja made 48 off 29 balls.

Then when his turn came with the ball, Jadeja finished with figures of 5 for 16 in 4 overs. This could very well be one of the best all-around performances in IPL history.

Like Bravo, Jadeja too is capable of hitting some powerful blows in the end. He showed that skills even in the last IPL against KKR when he walloped a six off the penultimate ball of the match bowled by Vinay Kumar to take CSK to a thrilling win.

Jadeja is a dangerous bowler on the slow and low wickets at Chepauk. On such wickets, he is hard to score off. Jadeja is the spin bowling all-rounder in this team.

Albie Morkel

Albie Morkel - The second overseas all-rounder in the team

Matches – 78, Inns – 59, Runs – 827, Avg – 24, SR – 145, Wkts – 76, Economy – 8.10

Albie Morkel was with the CSK team right from the first season. He was the No.1 all-rounder for CSK before Dwayne Bravo arrived on the scene.

Morkel was an intelligent bowler with both the new and old ball. He was also a dangerous big hitter down the order who could change the course of a match with his bat.

Morkel’s best in IPL with the bat came in the very first season in 2008 when he made 71 against Rajasthan Royals. But his best cameo came against Royal Challengers in 2012 at Bangalore. CSK needed 42 off 12 balls at an asking rate of 21 when Dhoni got out.

Morkel was the new batsman and he was pleasantly surprised to see Virat Kohli bowling the 19th over of the innings. Morkel struck into Kohli in that over with scores of 4,6,4,6,2 and 6. Morkel made 28 off 7 balls at a strike rate of 400 which enabled CSK to win off the last ball.

Morkel was equally successful with the ball having claimed more than 10 wickets in his first 5 seasons.

Morkel is the second overseas all-rounder in this team.