First ever IPL XI of Chennai Super Kings: Where are they now?
Chennai Super Kings have been one of the most successful IPL team and undoubtedly, the most consistent outfit too. They made their return after serving a two-year ban, and after facing a lot of flak for their auction choices last year, they proved everyone wrong by winning the trophy.
Despite any circumstances, they have made to the knockout stage of every season that they have played and that is enough to describe their expertise in this form of cricket. The yellow army- who have won the trophy thrice are shoulder-to-shoulder with the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians. However, they will be looking forward to breaking the tie and winning the trophy for the second consecutive year.
In the first season of IPL, CSK bought many classic players like Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming, Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Hussey to name a few. Also, they bought the costliest player of the inaugural auction - MS Dhoni.
They had an amazing season and made their way to the finals against Rajasthan Royals. Unfortunately, they lost the match, and they were unable to clinch the title. But, where is the 2008 squad now? Here is an article which will tell you whereabouts of the 2008 squad.
Openers: Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel
The dominating Australian opener opened for Chennai Super Kings too. The then 36-year-old scored 189 runs and created a strong foundation for the Kings. In the second season, the Super Kings opener Matthew Hayden scored 572 runs in 12 innings with 5 half-centuries at an average of 52 and strike-rate of 145. He won the Orange Cap for the leading run-scorer of the season and was also adjudged Player of the Tournament.
The burly Aussie did not stay for long with CSK as he retired from international cricket in 2009 and from the IPL in 2010, but he made a tremendous impact whilst his time in Chennai.
Currently, Hayden has been working with Cricket Australia in raising the profile of cricket among the indigenous population of Australia. He has held respectable positions in the Queensland and Australian Cricket Boards. Hayden is also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
In 2018, Hayden met with an accident while skiing with his family in Queensland. He suffered from multiple fractures and ligament tears. However, the legend is doing fine now.
Pakistan Cricket Board recently announced that Hayden will work as a commentator in Pakistan Super League alongside Graeme Smith and Ramiz Raja this year. These days we also see him live on the TV as an expert and analyst who gives interesting insights into the game.
Parthiv Patel served as the opening batsman for the franchise, alongside Hayden, and he performed fairly well. The keeper-batsman was CSK's third leading run scorer in the season with 302 runs from 13 games, including two 50s.
In the finals, he scored a much-needed 33-ball 38 runs which proved to be a strong base for his staggering team.
He remained in CSK till 2010, and since then, he has changed his team five times. He has been a part of Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. Currently, he is serving his second tenure at Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Patel couldn't stay long in the international circuit and made his last appearance for India against South Africa in 2018. He is still in the radar for the Indian squad and is playing for Gujarat in first-class cricket.