IPL preview: Chennai Super Kings

To call the Chennai Super Kings the most consistent team in the history of the Indian Premier League will not be overstating it by any stretch.

Of the seven seasons played so far, the Super Kings have made the final on five occasions, winning it twice. In the other two seasons they didn't reach the final, they ended in the top four. 

MS Dhoni will lead the Super Kings for the eighth season in a row with his calm and composed disposition having allowed his team to achieve the results they have managed over the years.

Of course, the fans could be getting a tad restless following the lack of IPL titles since 2011, but victory in the Champions League T20 last season should have helped ease the pressure. 

The Super Kings brought in Sydney Thunder's Australian great Michael Hussey from the auction this year having released him last season, but such is the strength of Chennai's squad, it will be interesting to see if the veteran can find his way back into the playing XI.

Among other big-ticket players to make it to the squad through this year’s auction include South African quick Kyle Abbott, and Indians Irfan Pathan and Rahul Sharma.

Pathan’s selection can be traced back to the skipper Dhoni’s propensity to have multiple all-round options and he could look to partner Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja in that regard in the middle-order. 

Another Australian, Perth Scorchers' bowler Andrew Tye, makes it into the squad following his 14 scalps in the recent KFC T20 Big Bash League season at 18.35.

While the presence of India's Mohit Sharma, New Zealand's Matt Henry, Abbott and the various all-rounders could restrict Tye's appearances this season, it will be a huge learning opportunity for the 28-year-old Western Australian.

Strengths
Chennai's biggest strength comes from their previous experience of being in every knockout/playoff before this season, and the fact that they have managed to retain the most of the core of their team throughout the seven seasons in the IPL. 

In tough match situations, especially when they get closer to the playoffs, they have players with the kind of experience to turn things around for them. The importance of this skill is amplified during the playoffs, where small mistakes could be magnified. 

Another tick in the box is the captain-coach combination of MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming, both of whom know their respective roles and give the other enough space to work things out, on and off the field.

Weaknesses
Over the years, Chennai have shown the tendency to peak later in the tournament and could be slow starters. It has worked for them almost every time, but teams will be getting wiser to that and as we saw with the Kings XI Punjab last season, other sides could be looking to get closer to finishing in the top four sooner rather than later.

Predicted Finish
In the top two yet again.

Squad
MS Dhoni, Baba Aparajith, Ashish Nehra, Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Smith, Matt Henry, Mithun Manhas, Ishwar Pandey, Pawan Negi, Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Samuel Badree, Michael Hussey, Ronit More, Kyle Abbott, Rahul Sharma, Pratyush Singh, Irfan Pathan, Eklavya Dwivedi, Ankush Bains, Andrew Tye

Coach: Stephen Fleming
Bowling coach: Andy Bichel
Fielding coach: Steve Rixon
Physical trainer: Gregory King
Physio: Tommy Simsek
Team manager: Russell Radhakrishnan
Performance Analyst: Lakshmi Narayanan
Massage Therapist: Rodney Charles Parry
Team Doctor: Dr. Madhu Thottappillil
Baggage Manager: Sanjay Natarajan

IPL Season Previews

• Chennai Super Kings
• Delhi Daredevils
• Kings Xi Punjab
• Kolkata Knight Riders
• Mumbai Indians
• Rajasthan Royals
• Royal Challengers Bangalore
• Sunrisers Hyderabad