IPL: CSK's greatest overseas XI of all time

Middle Order: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Smith, Mike Hussey

Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis find themselves slightly lower down the order in this XI

Although Shane Watson batted in the middle order for Australia for a large part of his international career, his success opening for both CSK and the Rajasthan Royals - as well as his failures for the Royal Challengers Bangalore - puts him at the next best spot - No. 3.

Watto has played two incredible knocks for CSK in the IPL finals of 2018 and 2019, and will be key to the team's fortunes in the upcoming IPL. Although he is getting on in age and doesn't bowl much anymore, he is still as destructive as ever with the bat in hand.

Faf du Plessis, Watson's opening partner for the majority of the 2019 IPL, comes in at No. 4. The former South African captain has played at No. 4 for CSK in the past, and has proven himself to be adaptable enough to bat anywhere in the order for any team he has played for. In 63 games for CSK, he has 1,639 runs at an average of 31.4 and strike rate of 126.76.

Dwayne Smith formed a lethal opening partnership with Brendon McCullum before CSK's suspension, but finds himself at No. 5, which is a position he has played at for both the West Indies and the Mumbai Indians. The Caribbean all-rounder managed 965 runs in 32 games for CSK in the IPL, at an average of 30.16 and a strike rate of 128.5.

Current CSK batting coach Mike Hussey is entrusted with the role of a finisher in this XI, which is one that he played with significant success for Australia. Mr. Cricket played 52 games for MS Dhoni's men, and scored 1,768 runs at an average of 42.10. He also won the Orange Cap in IPL 2013.