Only a few franchises have left a lasting impact on the Indian Premier League (IPL) like the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Over the years, the Super Kings have been a powerhouse in the tournament, boasting a formidable lineup of some of the world’s best cricketers.
Under the inspirational captaincy of MS Dhoni, CSK have lifted the prestigious IPL trophy for five times. Recently, the talented all-rounder Shivam Dube, who has himself represented CSK, revealed his all-time favourite CSK XI, comprised of legendary players who have graced the yellow jersey.
Starting with the openers, the star all-rounder selected the Australian duo of Michael Hussey and Matthew Hayden. Notably, Hayden’s aggressive batting and brute power made him one of the most feared batters in the league. In 34 matches, Hayden scored 1,117 runs with a highest score of 93, at a strike rate of 135.55, including 8 fifties.
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Similarly, Hussey was a prolific run-scorer and one of the cornerstones of CSK’s success during his stint with the team. In 64 matches, he amassed 2213 runs with a highest score of an unbeaten 116, at a strike rate of 122.80, including 17 half-centuries.
Dube picks Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in his star-studded CSK XI
At number 3, Dube went with the loyal CSK servant, Suresh Raina, who is also known as “Chinna Thala”. With his explosive strokeplay and ability to perform under pressure, Raina was the backbone of CSK’s batting lineup for years. In 200 matches, he piled up 5,529 runs with a highest score of an unbeaten 109, at a strike rate of 138.91, including 38 half-centuries.
Following Raina, Dube picked Ambati Rayudu at number 4. Rayudu, being a versatile batter who was capable of batting anywhere in the order, played a major role in his team’s success. In 90 matches for CSK, he accumulated 1932 runs with a highest score of an unbeaten 100, including 8 fifties.
When it comes to captaincy and wicketkeeping, there was an obvious choice in the form of none other than Dhoni. Fondly known as “Captain Cool,” Dhoni is the heart and soul of CSK and his astute leadership, calm demeanor, and ability to finish games make him an indispensable figure in the lineup. In 244 matches, Dhoni scored 4,957 runs with a highest score of an unbeaten 84. As a wicketkeeper, he has accounted for 184 dismissals behind the stumps.
Regarding the all-rounders, Dube picked Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel and himself at number 6, 7 and 8, respectively. Jadeja, has been an asset to CSK with his exceptional fielding, economical bowling, and explosive batting down the order. In 172 matches, he scored 1786 runs with a highest score of an unbeaten 62. With the ball, Jadeja took 134 wickets at an economy rate of 7.68.
Similarly, Morkel, was an integral part of CSK’s success during the early seasons of the IPL. His ability to hit massive sixes and deliver crucial overs made him a valuable player in the squad. In 92 matches, he scored 909 runs with a highest score of 71, at a strike rate of 142.25. With the ball, Morkel took 91 wickets at an economy rate of 7.97.
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Dube himself has shown his talent in the previous edition of the cash-rich league, finishing with 418 runs in 16 games with three fifties. Although he didn’t ball a single ball in IPL 2023, Dube has a sureshot ability to deliver in the middle overs.
Dube finished his all-time XI by naming Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh and Lakshmipathy Balaji. Notably, Bravo has been one of the biggest match-winners for CSK, having played in 130 games and took 154 wickets and scored 1280 runs. Similarly, Harbhajan bagged 23 wickets for CSK while Balaji, who played a crucial role in CSK’s success in the earlier editions, took 36 wickets at an economy rate of 8.32.
Shivam Dube’s all-time CSK XI: Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Lakshmipathy Balaji.
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