On This Day in 2018: CSK Rise From Ashes, Win IPL Title After Serving 2-Year Ban

Since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings has been a dominant force. The team, led by the legendary MS Dhoni, is one of the most successful IPL teams ever with five titles and 10 final appearances. Picking from their many successful campaigns is difficult, but if you ask a diehard CSK supporter, the 2018 title will arguably be the choice.

Returning to the IPL after serving a two-year ban, Dhoni’s boys enjoyed the league stage ending second in the table with nine wins out of 14 matches. They defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 making it to the finals.

In the finals, they once again met Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

The toss was won by the Chennai Super Kings and they elected to field first. It proved to be a good decision for CSK as SRH were 64/2 after 8.3 overs with both their openers Shreevats Goswami and Shikhar Dhawan back in the pavilion. Skipper Kane Williamson – the tournament’s Orange Cap holder – departed after SRH crossed the 100-run mark.

Yusuf Pathan’s late charge along with Carlos Brathwaite, helped the Hyderabad-based team reach 178 runs, giving their bowlers a target to defend.

SRH bowlers started on a good note after CSK opener Faf Du Plessis got dismissed in the fourth over scoring just 10 runs off 11 balls. SRH pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (4-1-17-0) started well with some tight bowling, not letting the Chennai batters settle.

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson gradually started to shift the gears during the last over of the powerplay. He hammered Sandeep Sharma for a six over midwicket and followed it up with a four down the ground.

The next over, bowled by Siddarth Kaul, saw Watson flick a six over square leg and smash two more fours. Another maximum and a four came in Kaul’s subsequent over. By the halfway stage of their chase, CSK had comfortably reached 80-1.

Watson brought up his fifty in style on the first ball of the 11th over, launching Shakib Al Hasan for a six over deep square leg. In the 13th over, he took on Sandeep Sharma again, hitting him for two fours and three consecutive sixes, racking up 27 runs in that over alone.

Watson moved to 97 by pulling Carlos Brathwaite for a six over deep midwicket. He reached a brilliant century by guiding a full delivery from Rashid Khan to cover for a single.

Watson continued his onslaught, striking four more boundaries before Ambati Rayudu sealed the victory. Rayudu drove Brathwaite through the covers for four, securing a dominating win for CSK. Watson was rightfully adjudged the Player Of The Match as CSK lifted their 3rd title after a gap of 7-long years.

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