Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League. CSK made their mark when they qualified for the final of the inaugural season in 2008. And since then, they have had a total of nine finals out of 15 seasons. That speaks volumes about the performance of this team.
They are just behind the Mumbai Indians (5 IPL titles) and won the IPL four times in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2022. Although they faced a suspension for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, they have still played in the IPL playoffs the most times (11). Whenever we talk about CSK, the name of MS Dhoni comes naturally, as he has led them in all four winning seasons. But there are two more players who have led the Yellow Army in this cash-rich league.
List of Captains for Chennai Super Kings
| Player | Span | Mts | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 2008-2023 | 219 | 132 | 85 | 1 | 1 | 60.77 |
| Suresh Raina | 2010-2019 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 41.66 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 2022-2022 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
3. Ravindra Jadeja (8 games in 2022 season)
Indian star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was part of the Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 season. Then, the Chennai franchise signed him in 2022 for a price of INR 9.2 crore. He became their most expensive player for that season. Since then, the all-rounder has been a crucial part of the team. He gives this team a perfect balance with both bat and ball.
And for his consistent performance, he was handed the captaincy duties in the 2022 season. He became the third player to lead Chennai in the tournament since 2008. Although the decision backfired on the franchise, the team couldn’t gain momentum. Jadeja captained CSK in 8 games and won only two, with six defeats. Then he was removed from the captaincy midway through the season. Jadeja has played 156 games for CSK, scored 1596 runs, and taken 114 wickets as well.
2. Suresh Raina (6 games as CSK captain)
Suresh Raina, a former Indian star and IPL legend, was one of three players who led the four-time champions in the IPL. He had been part of the CSK setup since the beginning of the 2008 season. The left-hander was the vice captain of the team and led CSK in six games in the absence of MS Dhoni.
As a captain, he won two games, lost three and one match ended in a tie. Raina was the backbone of Chennai’s batting over the years. He is still their highest run-scorer. He played 200 games for them and scored 5529 runs at 138.91, including two centuries and 38 half-centuries. Raina was also part of the all four IPL wins for the CSK. He was released from the side after the 2021 season, and then he retired from the IPL.
1. MS Dhoni (219 games as a captain)
MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings are synoyms to each other. Chennai has a huge fan base because MSD is the captain. There has not been a season when Dhoni hasn’t captained CSK in the IPL. He was signed by the franchise in 2008 for a price of INR 6 crore, and since then, he has been the face of the franchise. Dhoni has led the team to four IPL titles and also twice in Champions League Twenty20 in 2010 and 2014.
He is one of the most successful captains in the history of franchise cricket. Dhoni might play his last IPL in the upcoming season in 2023, but his legacy will always remain strong. He has played 228 games for CSK and scored 4853 runs at 39.13 with 23 half-centuries. In his captaincy, CSK has won 132 games, (most IPL wins under a captain), lost 85 and one game ended in a tie.