The Chennai Super Kings is India’s biggest sports franchise and it boasts one of the strongest fan bases in the world. There are many reasons that CSK is as famous as it is, but the team’s cricketing success in the IPL is the foremost reason. This success owes in big part to the partnership between MS Dhoni, one of cricket’s smartest minds, and Stephen Fleming, the team’s coach since 2009. Together, they pioneered a long-term vision for franchise cricket that laid the foundation for a truly legendary enterprise.
Since 2008, CSK has looked to sign players that can contribute to the franchise for multiple seasons. Dhoni’s signing in 2008 was easily one of the franchises best decisions and it is beyond doubt that CSK wouldn’t be the franchise it is today without his invaluable contribution. The city of Chennai adopted the Ranchi man as he fearlessly led the side, turning almost certain losses into memorable wins, with his unassuming demeanour and irresistible skill. A young blistering Suresh Raina joined the franchise in 2008 and I think he has probably had the biggest on-field impact of any CSK player ever. Amassing runs, taking crucial wickets and being one of the greatest fielders of his time, Raina was one of the IPL’s biggest players and will forever be remembered as Chinna Thala.
Albie Morkel played for CSK from 2008 to 2013 and he set the league on fire with his huge sixes and his knack for taking wickets. He was part of a golden generation of South African T20 cricketers and during his stint in the competition, he was second in the IPL amongst his countrymen only to AB De Villiers himself. Ravichandran Ashwin, hailing from the streets of T Nagar in Chennai, loyally served the Super Kings from 2008 to 2015, foxing batsmen with his variations and his consistency with the ball made him Dhoni’s most potent bowling weapon for years.
CSK has also helped groom individuals into better players over time. As their initial core team started getting older and less productive, they recognised the need to always keep in mind the development of young players, who could potentially turn into core team members. Ravindra Jadeja, the man who can do it all, joined CSK after their 2011 triumph and has emerged as the man who will take the franchise forward after Dhoni retires. A young Ruturaj Gaikwad emerged as the only positive in their dismal 2020 season and was instrumental in their 2021 triumph against all odds, taking home the Orange Cap.
The bond with CSK is so special to many players that after their playing days, they have stayed on with the franchise as coaches. Fleming played in the inaugural season of the IPL and has coached CSK ever since. Micheal Hussey, the Aussie legend, played 7 seasons for CSK and won the Orange Cap for most runs in the 2013 season. In 2018, he was appointed as the batting coach of the team. Chennai’s very own Lakshmipathy Balaji played the first 3 seasons for CSK and was key in their 2010 triumph. He now serves the franchise as their bowling coach.
However, this blinding desire to retain the players that they have groomed has also backfired for the Super Kings. The most recent example was the 2022 Auction, where CSK shelled out 14 Crores for their star bowler Deepak Chahar. Chahar was later injured and didn’t play a single game the entire season. CSK’s move to back their own left them with a very poor bowling attack, which bled runs and lost them many games that they absolutely should have closed out.
The Super Kings have always done things their way and they are one of those organisations that you just have to stop and admire. They have had their fair share of controversies but I believe when it comes to cricket, they have set a very high benchmark, which has even turned into a curse because people expect every single season of theirs to be spectacular.
Image : Screenshot from YouTube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gExoAZDWy5I)
