Chennai Super Kings proved everybody wrong with their outstanding performances in their triumphant return to Indian Premier League 2018, after two years ban for violation of IPL code of conduct. Led by the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, CSK “ comprising most players above the age of 30 amongst all the eight teams “ proved to be the best chasers in the 11th edition of the world’s toughest T20 tournament as they outplayed the best bowling attack in the competition in the form of Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the finals.
CSK’s victorious campaign provides a sweet finish to what seemed to be a highly challenging beginning starting from the exercise of putting the team together after it had to be dismantled two years ago due to suspension from the league. While coach Stephen Fleming and captain Dhoni were back at the helm of affairs leading to the new season, the finishing touches were put during the players’ auction where the CSK core was reassembled. Although the players had aged by then, the think-tank showed no hesitation in buying back their stars.
While most of the critics ridiculed the purchases and wrote off the team for what they thought was an attempt to rekindle the fan following of the past rather than go for ambitious young players hungry for success; CSK management comprising one of the shrewdest captains of his generation in Kiwi tactician Fleming, knew what they were creating. Experience was the key for CSK and after a rusty start, the match-winners in Dhoni’s team including the man of the finals Shane Watson, got going and how!
CSK’s third title in IPL history should feel special compared to the previous two as the team not only prevailed over factors beyond their control, but also proved that the T20 format is still anybody’s game with age being just a number.
Runners-up Hyderabad were also pretty close to becoming champions, which they can feel they were as they topped the regular season on net run-rate, while CSK also ended up with the same points total of 18 from 14 matches with nine victories and five losses each for both the teams. However, CSK trumped SRH even in both the league matches, before getting the better of Kane Williamson’s boys in the first qualifier and finals
Overall, the IPL produced great moments of sporting excellence with tremendous piece of fielding by Trent Boult and Ab de Villiers leaving fans in a daze. Entertainment in general was at its feverish pitch with the sixers and fours galore; while the variations and tricks coming off in bowling, gave cricket enthusiasts a new challenge to try out. While there are IPL-bashers, who feel CSK and Rajasthan Royals qualifying for the play-offs was a foregone conclusion for business reasons following each of the team’s two-year bans, there is a growing number of new fans with children starting to come together to enjoy the T20 extravaganza. As such, IPL has indeed become a culture in India as prime-time engagement for people of all ages and walks of life.
