IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings' season in numbers

Chennai Super Kings made a remarkable comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after serving a two-year ban as they claimed the title for the 3rd time and their first since 2011. The team was bulked up with players nearing their retirement and lost the chance of playing at their home ground in Chennai. However, the MS Dhoni-led side brought the best out with their experience and delivered when it mattered the most. As many as eight CSK players winning a Man of Match award this season shows how diverse the contribution was.

Here are the major stats and numbers that were created by Chennai Super Kings during their victorious campaign:

4 – Four players scored over 400+ runs in this season for the Super Kings – Ambati Rayudu (602), Shane Watson (555), MS Dhoni (455) and Suresh Raina (445). This only the 2nd instance where four players from a team scored 400+ runs in an IPL season. Mumbai Indians had four players scoring 400 and more runs during the 2013 season.

4/10 – Lungi Ngidi recorded the best figures for CSK this season with his 4/10 against Kings XI Punjab. It is the cheapest 4-wicket haul by a CSK player in the IPL levelling Ashish Nehra’s 4/10 against RCB in the 2015 season.

16 – Shardul Thakur was the leading wicket-taker for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018 with 16 wickets in 13 matches. At least one bowler from the teams except CSK and Rajasthan Royals took 17 and more wickets this season.

16 – Chennai touched the 200-run mark on 16 occasions in the IPL including four times in 2018. They surpassed RCB’s tally of 15.

21 – Sam Billings’ 21-ball fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders is the 3rd fastest fifty by a CSK player in the IPL. Suresh Raina scored a 16-ball fifty in the 2014 season against KXIP while MS Dhoni completed his fifty in 20 balls in the 2012 Eliminator against MI.

35 – Shane Watson hit 35 sixes in this season which is the 2nd most behind Rishabh Pant’s 37 sixes. Ambati Rayudu stands 3rd on the list with 34 sixes while MS Dhoni also hit 30 sixes this season. Only one player prior to this season hit 30+ sixes for CSK in an edition. Dwayne Smith hit as many as 34 sixes in 2014 across 16 innings.

105 – Chennai Super Kings now have 105 wins in the Twenty20 format to their name. They became the 2nd team after Mumbai Indians to register 100 wins in T20 cricket with the 13-run win against Delhi Daredevils.

206 – CSK successfully chased down 206 against RCB with five wickets and two balls to spare in Bangalore. This is their joint highest successful chase in the IPL levelling the 206-run chase against the same opposition in 2012 at Chepauk.

602 – Ambati Rayudu’s 602 runs are the most by a CSK player this season. He became the 2nd player from CSK to score 600+ runs in an IPL edition. Mike Hussey had scored 733 runs in 2013.