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The five-time champion Chennai Super Kings are among the best teams in the Indian Premier League. A record of 10 competition finals were contested by CSK under the famous MS Dhoni’s leadership.
Since the CSK players dislike being chopped and changed, the team has a reputation for sticking by them through thick and thin. Few players have played for the team because of this mentality, as they hardly ever use more than 18 players in a season.
In the meantime, a few well-known players have played for Chennai throughout their careers but were eventually released because they were unable to make an impact. Apparently, some of those were forgotten. Here are five players who you may not be familiar with but who have played for CSK.
1. Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff is a superb example of flamboyance. He is still regarded as one of the greatest all-round players of all time and was one of the England team’s poster boys along with Kevin Pietersen. He is among the wealthiest players in the IPL after being signed by Chennai Super Kings for INR 9.8 crore. At one point, his income was higher than MS Dhoni’s as well.
Flintoff didn’t have a great season, though, as he only participated in three games, taking two wickets and scored 62 runs at a strike rate of 116.98. Due to a knee injury sustained during the tournament, the all-rounder was forced to depart for England. It also sparked a huge Financial Fairplay debate in the IPL. Flintoff never went back to India to play in the IPL.
2. Vijay Shankar
In the 2014 IPL, Vijay Shankar, an all-rounder, was a member of the Chennai Super Kings team. The team recognized his immense potential, and the Chennai administration was so delighted that they signed the native all-rounder for INR 10 lakh. It was anticipated that the tournament would test his all-around abilities, but Chennai did not provide him with enough chances.
That season, Shankar only participated in one game and was not given an opportunity to bat. He let up 19 runs in an over of bowling. CSK never took him into consideration again. Later, Shankar moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, then to Delhi Capitals, and finally back to Hyderabad. Shankar played for Gujarat Titans for the past three years.
He has played in 72 games overall in the lucrative league, scoring 1115 runs at a strike rate of 129.80. Additionally, he has taken nine wickets in the competition.
3. George Bailey
In 2009, George Bailey, who is currently Australia’s chief selector, joined the Chennai Super Kings. Despite only playing three games, he was purchased at auction for $50,000. He was scheduled for release after scoring 45 runs at a strike rate of 115.38.
But CSK retained him in 2010 because they wanted to give him another chance. Even yet, he only got one game and scored eighteen runs. He was released by CSK prior to the 2011 mega-auction.
In 2014, Bailey became the captain of Kings XI Punjab (now known as the Punjab Kings). Despite losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the summit match, the team advanced to the final under his direction. During the 2015 season, he also played for Punjab, however he was later dismissed. In 2016, he became a member of Rising Pune Supergiants.
4. Thisara Perera
In the 2010 Indian Premier League, Thisara Perera was another Sri Lankan international who played for the Chennai Super Kings. CSK added additional all-round players after missing the 2009 final, as they paid $50,000 for Perera. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old only participated in one match throughout the season and bowled one over. Later, when his time with CSK came to an end, he was not hired.
Perera later played for five different IPL teams. However, none of the franchises allowed them to stay for more than a season. He played for the Mumbai Indians (2012), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016), Punjab Kings (2015), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013), and Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011). In 2014, he was not selected.
During his 37 games in the lucrative league, he took 31 wickets and scored 422 runs at an average of 19.18. While he continues to play in a number of franchise leagues, he is now not part of the Sri Lankan team’s plans.
5. Nuwan Kulasekara
In the 2011 IPL, former Sri Lankan player Nuwan Kulasekara joined CSK. The team administration did not provide him with adequate opportunity during his first season, despite the fact that he was signed for $100,000. The now 42-year-old took one wicket at an economy rate of 8.66 in the one game he played that season.
Remarkably, following that season, Chennai kept the pacer on board. More chances were given to him the next year, but Kulasekera was unable to make an impression. In 2012, the pacer participated in five games and claimed four wickets at an economy rate of 6.71.
Although he was kept for the 2014 Indian Premier League, the team captained by MS Dhoni gave him no opportunities.
Also Read: IPL 2025 CSK Retention Rumors: Chennai Super Kings drop hints on player retentions
Throughout the season, Kulasekara remained a reserve, and Ben Hilfenhaus was the CSK team’s first-choice foreign pacer. He never played in the IPL again after being cut from the team.
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