Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is a professional cricket franchise based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Established in 2008, CSK is among the most successful teams in IPL history, sharing the record for five titles with Mumbai Indians. The team plays its home matches at the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium and is owned by Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited.
CSK has reached 10 IPL finals and qualified for the playoffs 12 times, both records in the league. The franchise has also won the Champions League Twenty20 twice, in 2010 and 2014. Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and coached by Stephen Fleming, CSK is celebrated for its consistency and fanbase.
The team faced a two-year suspension (2015–2017) due to the 2013 IPL betting case but returned in 2018, winning the title in its comeback season. In 2022, CSK became India’s first unicorn sports enterprise, with a valuation of $1.15 billion, making it the second most valuable IPL franchise.
Chennai Super Kings: History (2008–09)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was introduced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in September 2007, marking the beginning of a revolutionary Twenty20 cricket competition. The inaugural season was scheduled for 2008, with Chennai being among the eight franchises revealed in January 2008.
In the first-ever IPL player auction held in January 2008, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made history by purchasing then-Indian captain MS Dhoni for $1.5 million, making him the most expensive player in the auction. Other notable acquisitions included stars like Suresh Raina, Matthew Hayden, Jacob Oram, Stephen Fleming, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Michael Hussey.
The franchise appointed MS Dhoni as their captain and Kepler Wessels as the head coach, laying the foundation for one of the IPL’s most iconic teams. CSK played their home matches at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, starting their journey with strong performances that cemented their legacy in the league.
Chennai Super Kings: Ownership and Finances
When the IPL was launched in 2008, the Chennai Super Kings franchise was sold to India Cements for $91 million, making it the fourth most expensive team in the league. N. Srinivasan, then treasurer and vice-chairman of the BCCI, became the team’s de facto owner as managing director of India Cements.
In 2008, former BCCI President A. C. Muthiah raised concerns about BCCI regulations prohibiting administrators from holding commercial interests in board-conducted matches. The BCCI subsequently amended these regulations to exclude the IPL, leading to legal challenges. In 2013, Muthiah petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent Srinivasan’s BCCI presidency, which was rejected, allowing Srinivasan to take the role.
On January 22, 2015, the Supreme Court invalidated the 2008 amendment, barring board officials from holding commercial interests in the IPL. Consequently, the Chennai Super Kings were transferred to a new entity, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited.
Chennai Super Kings Full Team Jersey Numbers
| Player Name | Country | Role | Jersey No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | India | Wicket-keeper | 07 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | All-rounder | 08 |
| Rachin Ravindra | New Zealand | All-rounder | 17 |
| Shivam Dube | India | All-rounder | 25 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (C) | India | Batter | 31 |
| Mukesh Choudhary | India | Bowler | 33 |
| Shaik Rasheed | India | Batter | 66 |
| Devon Conway | New Zealand | Batter | 88 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | Bowler | 99 |
| Noor Ahmed | Afghanistan | Bowler | 15 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | All-rounder | 99 |
| Khaleel Ahmed | India | Bowler | 13 |
| Rahul Tripathi | India | Batter | 52 |
| Anshul Kamboj | India | All-rounder | 47 |
| Sam Curran | England | All-rounder | 58 |
| Gurjapneet Singh | India | Bowler | 7 |
| Nathan Ellis | Australia | Bowler | 12 |
| Deepak Hooda | India | All-rounder | 5 |
| Jamie Overton | England | All-rounder | 75 |
| Vijay Shankar | India | All-rounder | 59 |
| Vansh Bedi | India | Wicket-keeper | 223 |
| Andre Siddharth | India | Batter | – |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | India | All-rounder | – |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti | India | All-rounder | 5 |
| Shreyas Gopal | India | Bowler | 37 |
Chennai Super Kings: Brand Value and Sponsorship
Brand Value
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) consistently ranks among India’s most valuable sports franchises. In 2013, London-based Brand Finance placed CSK at 147th among the top 150 most valuable teams globally, with a brand value of $46 million. By January 2022, CSK became India’s first unicorn sports enterprise. In the same year, CSK was valued at $1.15 billion, ranking as the second most valuable IPL franchise.
Sponsorship Details
CSK’s sponsorship journey includes partnerships with prominent brands for kit manufacturing and shirt sponsorships:
| Year | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor (Front) | Shirt Sponsor (Back) | Chest Branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-2010 | Reebok | Aircel | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2011-2014 | Reebok | Aircel | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2015 | Reebok | Spartan | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2018-2020 | Seven | Muthoot Group | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2021 | Seven | Myntra | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2022-2023 | Seven | TVS Eurogrip | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
| 2024 | Seven | Etihad Airways | India Cements | Gulf Oil |
Deals
Aircel signed CSK’s first shirt sponsorship in 2008 with a three-year agreement. This was renewed in 2011 for ₹850 million ($10 million), setting a record for IPL sponsorships at the time. Later, Muthoot Group (2018–2020) and Myntra (2021) held the principal shirt sponsorships. CSK’s consistent growth in valuation and sponsorship reflects its strong presence and popularity in Indian sports.
