IPL: Ranking Chennai Super Kings’ five greatest bowlers of all time

Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

The Chennai Super Kings have been one of the most successful teams in the history of the Indian Premier League. They have won the tournament on four occasions and have qualified for the most number of the playoffs. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team failed to qualify for the playoffs last season and finished in ninth place in the points table. They will start their campaign against the Gujarat Titans this season on March 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

This year, CSK will be back playing their home games at the Chepauk, which is known to help the spinners. They bought the services of Ben Stokes in the IPL auction this year for INR 16.25 crores, and a lot will depend on him as he can provide excellent support in all departments. CSK’s bowlers have won the Purple Cap four times since the inception of IPL, which is more than any other team. The credit for the team’s massive success goes to the bowling lineup, which has included some of the most talented pacers as well as spinners.

Here are CSK’s five greatest bowlers of all time in IPL:

5. Albie Morkel

The former South African all-rounder played for four franchises in the IPL but enjoyed the most success while representing CSK. He featured in 78 games for CSK from 2008 to 2013 and picked a total of 76 wickets at an average of 27.02. CSK purchased Albie Morkel during the inaugural auction for INR 2.7 crores (USD 675,000) against his base price of INR 90 lakh (USD 225,000).

In his debut season, Morkel picked 17 wickets at an average of 23.47 and was the joint-highest wicket-taker for the team. He scored some handy runs with the bat as well and was among the team’s top five run-scorers that season. Morkel was among the four players CSK retained before going into the mega auction in 2011. He was involved in CSK’s first 150-run partnership in the IPL in 2010.

With the bat, Morkel scored 827 runs at an average of 23.62 and a strike rate of 144.83 for CSK. He picked more than 10 wickets each season from 2008 to 2012. On April 12, 2012, Morkel hit 28 runs in an over bowled by Virat Kohli and helped the team chase a target of over 200 runs.

4. Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar, the 30-year-old pacer, is known for his swing bowling and has delivered the best bowling figure by an Indian in T20Is. Chahar made his IPL debut with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 and played just five games in two seasons. In 2018, CSK picked him for INR 80 lakh from his base price of INR 20 lakh. In his debut season for CSK, Chahar took 10 wickets in 12 games at an average of 27.8.

He established himself in the 2019 season as he took 22 wickets in 17 games at an average of 21.9, an economy of 7.47, and a strike rate of 17.5. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for CSK that season. Since 2018, Chahar has taken 42 wickets in the powerplay overs, which is the most by any bowler. Chahar has taken a total of 58 wickets in 58 games for CSK at an average of 27.7.

Chahar created history during the mega auction in 2022. CSK shelled out INR 14 crores to pick him from his base price of INR 2 crores. He became the most expensive Indian bowler in IPL auction history. However, he was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin

With a cricket ball in his hand, Ravichandran Ashwin becomes nothing less than a magician. He was signed by CSK in 2008 for INR 20 lakh (USD 50,000) but didn’t get a chance to feature in any game. Ashwin made his IPL debut in 2009 and played just two games for CSK. He managed to pick up only two wickets in his debut season.

Ashwin became a regular in CSK’s playing 11 from the 2010 season and picked 13 wickets at an average of 22.53. In the 2011 auction, CSK picked Ashwin for INR 3.91 crores, and he took 20 wickets in 16 games at an average of 19.4. From 2010 to 2020, Ashwin picked 10 or more wickets in each season of the tournament. In his first five years in the tournament, Ashiwn bowled at an economy of less than seven.

During his stay with the franchise, Ashwin picked 90 wickets in 97 games at an average of 24.22, an economy of 6.45, and a strike rate of 22.5. Ashwin also contributed with the bat and scored 190 runs in 31 innings for CSK at a strike rate of 94.05. In 2016, when CSK was banned from IPL, Ashwin went on to play for Rising Pune Supergiants. In 2018, he was back in the auction pool and was picked by Punjab Kings ( earlier Kings XI Punjab).

2. Ravindra Jadeja

The star Indian all-rounder made his IPL debut back in 2008 with Rajasthan Royals and helped them win the inaugural trophy. In the 2012 auction, CSK shelled out their entire purse of INR 9.2 crores (USD 2 million) to have the services of Ravindra Jadeja. In his debut season with CSK, Jadeja picked 12 wickets in 19 games at an average of 22.75 and scored 191 runs.

In 2013, the Super Kings made it to the final, and Jadeja played a key role with both bat and ball. In 2014, he was one of the four players retained by CSK. In 2018, when the Super Kings were back in the league after serving two years ban, Jadeja was again retained by the team. In 2022, CSK retained Jadeja for INR 16 crores as the first priority ahead of MS Dhoni.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Jadeja was named the skipper of the squad but was later replaced by Dhoni. Jadeja has taken 105 wickets in 142 games for CSK at an average of 27.87, an economy of 7.53, and a strike rate of 22.2. He has also made over 1400 runs for the franchise at a strike rate of 134.2. Considering his performance with both bat and ball, Jadeja becomes one of the best candidates for the captaincy role in the future.

1. Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo is one of the two bowlers who have won the Purple Cap twice in the IPL. He has been one of the greatest bowlers not just for the Chennai Super Kings but in the entire history of the tournament. The 2022 season of the IPL was the last time Bravo donned the yellow jersey, and he finished the season as the leading wicket-taker for CSK. He announced his retirement from the IPL in December of last year and was quickly appointed as the bowling coach of CSK.

Bravo joined Mumbai Indians in 2008 as a replacement for injured Lasith Malinga. In his debut season for MI, Bravo picked a total of 11 wickets and scored 178 runs. He parted ways with MI before the mega auction of 2011 and was picked by CSK for INR 92 lakh. CSK won the IPL trophy in 2011, but Bravo didn’t do much for the team, as he could feature in only six games.

He redeemed himself in the next season with 15 wickets in 19 games and 371 runs at a strike rate of 140.53. However, the best was yet to come, and it happened during the 2013 season as Bravo became the first bowler to pick over 30 wickets in a season and won the Purple Cap. In 2015, he became the first bowler to win the Purple Cap twice, picking 26 wickets at an average of 16.38. During his stay with CSK, Bravo won the IPL trophy four times and finished as the leading wicket-taker for the team.