Chennai SuperKings Team, Stats and Schedule

Well you may not associate much of cricket with Chennai. But the fact that Chennai has been home to many Indian cricketing legends sets tone for the most spirited team of Indian Premiere league. Runners up of IPL 2008, the Chennai Super Kings team looks all set to grab the cup in IPL 2009. The team boasts of having the best captain that India ever had, to lead the side! Under the inspirational leadership of Dhoni, the team bagged some of the greatest wins in IPL 2008 season.



Chennai Super kings performance last year:



The team did register some of the most emphatic victories last year, including the one with 9 wickets victory over Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Its journey to Semi Finals consisted of 7 victories and then a victory over Punjab in Semis. Though the team may not have had the best NRR or high number of wins, but Chennai Super Kings definitely clinched the matches in time when it was required and thus stood out as the most opportunistic team of IPL Season 1.



The odds this year:



Well, after going through the review of IPL 2009 day 1 match, the experts did claim that bookies have gone all out on Chennai Super Kings. Though the match results went in favor of Mumbai Indians, notwithstanding, Chennai Super Kings continue to be favorites. The team carries an image of “fighter” for itself, which is something that definitely keeps them afloat in spite of all the odds.



Some quick facts about Chennai Super Kings



Team Coach: Kepler Wessels





Owner: India Cements





Captain: MS Dhoni





The Chennai Super Kings Team for 2009:



Matthew Hayden
Parthiv Patel
Suresh Raina
Subramaniam Badrinath
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c) (w)
Thilan Thushara
Jacob Oram
Andrew Flintoff
Joginder Sharma
Manpreet Gony
Ravichandran Ashwin
Albie Morkel
Laxmipathy Balaji
Muttiah Muralitharan
Makhaya Ntini
Abhinav Mukund
Mike Hussey
Arun Karthik
George Bailey
Murali Vijay
Napoleon Einstein
Palani Amarnath
Shadab Jakati
Srikkanth Anirudha
Stephen Fleming
Sudeep Tyagi
Suresh Kumar
Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan
Viraj Kadbe

Strengths :



The very fact that they missed the Last IPL season in a cliffhanger match, makes them the favorites this year too.
The inspiring leadership of Dhoni
Presence of in form Andrew Flintoff
Presence of Mat Hayden, Raina and Dhoni forms a formidable batting lineup



Weakness:



Too much of dependence on Dhoni and Hayden as far as batting is concerned.
Pace spearhead, Oram and Ntini have not made much of news last year.



Schedule