Chennai Super Kings: Dad's Army

Why is Chennai everyone's favourite?

The buzz and the fever of the 12th edition of Indian Premier League has finally calmed down. With Mumbai Indians winning the finals by just a margin of one run, the franchise has become the most successful franchise of all time for the IPL. While the success of Mumbai Indians is being judged on the basis of winning more number of IPL Trophies than any other team, the opponent playing against them were not less either. Chennai Super Kings have a blistering journey in their IPL history. With buying the most prolific and new captain of the Indian cricket team in 2008, Mahendra singh Dhoni has been the only captain that CSK ever had and always needed.

For a fact, CSK has been to the ‘Playoffs’ of the IPL in every season that they have played. The fan base that CSK has all over the country is mostly because of Dhoni, the man who have brought all the ICC trophies home and three IPL trophies to his name. Chennai super Kings suffered a big blow when the team was being banned for 2 years from the IPL and had to step back for the 2016 and 2017 season of the tournament.

How did it come back?

A fighter in their hearts and lion in their jersey, the team made a comeback in the 2018 season of the IPL and with a team that had an age average of 30 years. CSK was called a ‘’Dad’s Army’’. But, little did many know the experience and skill that the team possessed. Led by none other than M.S Dhoni, the team went on to win the IPL trophy for the third time and made a strong statement of their comeback. No one expected the team to do so well after being coming back from a two-year ban. But, as if the ban was just on paper for the pride of Chennai and went on to clinch the title overcoming all the criticises and questions regarding their performance.

The photo of Shane Watson playing with blood has created a sensation over the internet. Watson, who seemed to have lost the old touch was highly expected to sit out and make way for young players like Sam Billings. It was Dhoni who believed in the abilities and determination of the veteran CSK player and let him play all the matches of the IPL despite the poor form.

If you ask me about the reason for the success of CSK as a team, the credit shall go to two of them. One, a human that has given all his life to Indian cricket and bought all the trophies that Indian could ever wish for, M.S Dhoni. The other is the fan base of Chennai, despite all the hardships, the team never failed to get a tremendous welcoming from their supporters.

They may be a trophy behind Mumbai Indians, but they have been one of the most consistent teams of the tournament.