Chennai Super Kings

Introduction

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are one of the most successful and powerful domestic teams to exist in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They have been part of the IPL since 2008 when the league was first established and is owned by Chennai Super Kings cricket. They play all of their home matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai.

CSK are the joint-most successful franchise in the IPL and have won the title five times. They have provided fantasy cricket fans with moments of thrill, compassion, excitement, and action-packed games that have earned them a huge fan base all across the country.

However, it has not been all hunky dory for Chennai. They were banned from the IPL for two years between 2015 and 2017 after one of their owners was involved in the 2013 IPL betting scandal. But, Chennai came back in 2018 and won the title for the third time. As things stand, Chennai have amassed a net worth of more than 1 billion dollars.

Chennai Super Kings history

When the BCCI announced the launch of the IPL, Chennai became one of the teams in the inaugural season. The M.A. Chidambaram stadium became their den, and MS Dhoni, the most expensive player in the first IPL auction, became their captain. Chennai started with a bang, reaching the final in 2008 only to lose against Rajasthan. But, since then have won the trophy five times - in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. Dhoni has been the captain each time Chennai won the IPL trophy. He is still with the team and an active member, but has since relinquished captaincy and handed the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Team Owners

When the IPL was launched in the year 2008, CSK were owned by India Cements for $91 million. N. Srinivasan, who was the then treasurer and vice-chairman of the BCCI, became the CSK owner. In 2015, the CSK franchise was transferred to a different entity which went by the name Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited.

Team's Ex-Captains, Current Coaches, Home Ground

MS Dhoni has captained the CSK franchise for the longest time - 226 matches, to be exact in the IPL. He comfortably holds the record for the most matches as captain in the league, and has an excellent win% of 58.84 which includes five titles. Apart from him, Suresh Raina also led in the league for six matches, when Dhoni was unwell/injured. In 2022, Ravindra Jadeja captained CSK for eight matches, but Dhoni took back the reins midway through the tournament.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been leading the side since IPL 2024 and will remain captain in IPL 2025.

CSK captain (IPL 2008 to 2024)

MS Dhoni has led the CSK team for the longest time. In fact, no other captain in the history of IPL has had a longer career than Dhoni. Suresh Raina led CSK for six matches when Dhoni was injured/ not available. In 2022, Ravindra Jadeja was handed the CSK reins but he only captained eight matches with Dhoni having to take over midway through IPL 2022.

In IPL 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad was named CSK captain and he will continue leading the side in IPL 2025.

CSK's Last Year Glimpse

CSK had a topsy-turvy IPL 2024. They began with back-to-back wins against RCB and Gujarat Titans. Then there was a blip against Delhi Capitals but at the halfway stage, CSK were going strong. To make it to the playoffs, they had to just beat RCB in the final game of the season. But, CSK faltered and failed to make it to the final four.

CSK in the IPL (2008 to 2024)

CSK are the most consistent team in the IPL. In the 15 seasons that they have been a part of, CSK have made the playoffs stage 12. They have qualified for the final a record ten times and have won the trophy a record five times. The only seasons that they have been unable to make it to the playoffs are 2020, 2022 and 2024.

CSK in IPL 2025

CSK head into the IPL with a strong core squad. They had retained five players from their previous seasons: captain Gaikwad, Dhoni, fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube. At the player auctions, they added some solid names to their list including Devon Conway, R Ashwin, and Noor Ahmad. They also put up the paddle to RTM Rachin Ravindra.

CSK players list for IPL 2025

IPL 2025 - CSK team players list

Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (Rs. 6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs. 3.40 crore), Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 4 crore), R. Ashwin (Rs. 9.75 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs. 4.80 crore), Noor Ahmad (Rs. 10 crore), Vijay Shankar (Rs. 1.20 crore), Sam Curran (Rs. 2.40 crore), Shaik Rasheed (Rs. 30 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 3.40 crore), Mukesh Choudhary (Rs. 30 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs. 1.70 crore), Gurjapneet Singh (Rs. 2.20 crore), Nathan Ellis (Rs. 2 crore), Jamie Overton (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs. 30 lakh), Ramakrishna Ghosh (Rs. 30 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 30 lakh), Vansh Bedi (Rs. 55 lakh), Andre Siddarth (Rs. 30 lakh).

CSK Purse Remaining: Rs. 0.05 crore

CSK RTM Cards Left: 0

CSK Player Slots Remaining: 0

CSK Overseas Player Slots Remaining: 1

IPL 2025 CSK Retained Players List: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs. 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (Rs. 13 crore), Shivam Dube (Rs. 12 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (Rs. 18 crore), MS Dhoni (Rs. 4 crore)

What happened at the IPL auction 2025?

CSK went with a clear strategy, and that was to retain or buy back as many players as they had in the 2024 IPL. It was a simple yet effective game plan from the Yellow brigade. They didn't raise the paddles immediately but were very clear about who they wanted to target and went all-out for those players.

CSK's biggest buy at the 2025 IPL auction was Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad who they picked for a whopping Rs. 10 crore. They know the pitches in Chennai will turn and spin and that has always been their strength. Noor was brought on board for precisely that reason. They also got R Ashwin, the local boy for Rs. 9.2 crore while New Zealand opening batsman Devon Conway was added to the squad for Rs. 6.25 crore. Sam Curran will also return to CSK for IPL 2025.

CSK have also bid for some local talent such as Vijay Shankar, Andre Siddarth, Gurjapneet Singh and also domestic stars such as Deepak Hooda and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

CSK IPL 2025 Full Schedule: Chennai Super Kings fixtures, matches, date, timings, venues

CSK matches are always a crowd-puller. They are known to have a huge fan base not just in Chennai but all over India. One reason definitely is MS Dhoni, but even apart from him, the franchise has a cult following. They will start their IPL 2025 against Mumbai Indians, also known as the El Clasico of IPL. That match will be played in Chennai on March 23, the second day of the IPL.

Another marquee clash will be against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which will be on March 28 in Chennai. Then they face Rajasthan Royals away in Guwahati before facing Delhi Capitals back at home in Chennai.

Check the CSK Full Schedule, Fixtures, Match dates, and Timings here.

CSK in the IPL over the years

The beginning

Chennai Super Kings kicked off the inaugural season of the IPL by adding some of the best players like Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan, Flemming, and Matthew Hayden to the team. MSD was leading the squad and Kepler Wessels was appointed as the head coach. 

The team won their first match at Mohali against Kings XI Punjab and made a record of the highest totals in the tournament. However, they lost the finals against Rajasthan Royals by 3 wickets in an immensely exciting match.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were the two new additions in the 2009 season whereas Hussey took a break to participate in The Ashes. Unfortunately, the Dhoni squad couldn't perform up to the mark and landed at the fourth spot in the tables. However, the Australian batting sensation Hayden won the orange cap for the season by scoring five half-centuries in 12 innings.

CSK's golden era

IPL 2010 did not begin on a good note for CSK as they won only two matches out of seven. But gradually they picked up and started showcasing the finest cricket skills. Raina and Murali Vijay were acing their game. Dhoni was also in great form and as a result, they defeated Mumbai Indians in the finals to bag their first-ever IPL title. 

This enthralling victory paved the way for CSK to enter the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 tournament that was held in South Africa that year. The Dhoni brigade won the CLT20 and became the first-ever IPLteam to accomplish the same.

In IPL 2011, CSK retained their core team, which included Dhoni, Raina, and Murali Vijay. They won the trop once more, beating RCBin an action-packed game where Vijay contributed match-winning 95 runs. The Dhoni brigade became the first IPL team to grab the trophy two years in a row but they couldn't perform well at the Champions League that season and finished at the bottom of the table.

Time to consolidate (2012 to 2015)

In IPL 2012, Ravindra Jadeja joined the Dhoni squad but the team started slow. Somehow, they managed to reach the playoffs and brushed aside Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils to make it to the final. Unfortunately, they lost the final against Kolkata Knight Riders.

CSK strengthen their squad with some of the best overseas and Indian bowlers in IPL2013. The team performed quite well throughout the tournament but lost the final against Mumbai Indians. However, Michael Hussey and Dwayne Bravo won orange and purple caps for their amazing contribution to the season.

In spite of adding cricketers like Ashish Nehra, Dwayne Smith, Mohit Sharma, and Brendon McCullum, CSK could only manage to enter the playoffs in the IPL 2014 where they lost toKings XI Punjab. But they rose back in the next season and performed amazingly only to lose the finals against MI.

The dark years

The subsequent two years 2016 and 2017 proved to be very disappointing for CSK as the entire squad was suspended for this duration. The reason behind the suspension was that the team owner's relative was arrested in a match-fixing case from IPL 2013.

CSK's revival in IPL 2018

After a rough patch of suspension, the CSK came back to the tournament with a positive attitude. The team began their winning streak by beating KKR in their first match and ended the tournament by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals to lift the IPL title once again.

The 2019 season of IPL was great for CSK, but they lost the title bout against MI by just one run. Imran Tahir of CSK won the purple cap for the season.

The subsequent years (2020 to 2024)

IPL 2021 and 2022 were a bit rocky for CSK. They had a leadership change but then Dhoni had to come back. And then in IPL 2023, CSK roared again in grand fashion. They defeated Gujarat Titans in a pulsating final to remember and won the IPL title a record fifth time. Their IPL 2024 wasn't great though with the team not able to qualify for the playoffs.

IPL 2025: What to expect from CSK?

CSK are all prepared to face the IPL 2025 and strong squad at their disposal. From Dhoni to Gaikwad to Ravindra to Curran, they have players in form. Everyone is expecting that the Gaikwad brigade will perform their best in the tournament and grab their sixth IPL title.

CSK rule the Indian T20 fantasy landscape

Chennai Super Kings have a huge fan base in the fantasy cricket world as there are millions of CSK lovers who can do anything to take these stars in their virtual teams. There is sheer excitement in sports enthusiasts to play fantasy cricket with their beloved CSK rock stars and win lucrative rewards.

CSK are one of the most passionate and efficient IPL teams who have the potential to turn games in their favour at any given point. The subsequent IPL season is going to be immensely thrilling for CSK fans as there will be a lot of drama, action, and cricket!