Former India and Chennai Super Kings legend Ravichandran Ashwin recently ranked CSK’s greatest ever players. In the ranking, he placed former CSK captain MS Dhoni at number 1 and also placed himself in the top three.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Ashwin played a blind-ranking competition where he was asked to rank CSK’s legendary players over the 19 years of IPL. In the blind-ranking format, the contestant is not given all the choices at once.
Contestants are asked to allocate a spot (in this case, 8) to a given name on the list, without knowing who is next or in what order they will appear. The players ranked by Ravichandran Ashwin were as follows:
Ruturaj Gaikwad – #4
The first name Ashwin was asked was that of current CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad first joined CSK in 2019 and made his debut for the team in 2020.
In his debut season, Gaikwad impressed by scoring three consecutive fifties to rescue a difficult season for CSK. In 2021, he started the season as an uncapped player, but won the Orange Cap as CSK won the IPL title.
In 2023, CSK again won the IPL and Gaikwad was the team’s second-highest run-scorer. Overall, he is CSK’s third-highest run-scorer in IPL history behind Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni.
Ruturaj Gaikwad for CSK:
Matches – 81, Runs – 2753, Avg – 39.32, SR – 135.74, 100 – 2, 50 – 22
Also read: Sanju Samson openly rejects CSK captaincy!
Ravindra Jadeja – #5
Ravichandran Ashwin placed his “spin-twin” southpaw Ravindra Jadeja at No. 5. Jadeja played for CSK from 2012 to 2025 (barring a two-year ban) and was transferred to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026.
In his 12 years with CSK, Jadeja won three IPL titles with the franchise, including in 2023 when he successfully chased 10 off the last 2 balls in the final.
Jadeja’s all-round skills make him a vital asset for CSK. He is the fifth highest run scorer and highest wicket taker of CSK till date. He is one of only two players to complete the double of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets for the same franchise in the IPL.
Ravindra Jadeja for CSK:
Matches – 186, Runs – 2198, Bat Average – 28.54, SR – 136.09, 50s – 5, Wickets – 143, Bowl Average – 28.32, Ikon – 7.63, 5wi – 1
Suresh Raina – #2
Raina was an integral part of CSK for years. Apart from MS Dhoni, Raina was the only other player to be a part of four IPL title-winning teams with CSK.
Raina became the first player in IPL history to reach 2,000 and 3,000 runs at the peak of his powers in the early 2010s. When CSK won their first IPL trophy in 2010, Raina was the team’s leading run-scorer.
Raina is also the second highest run-scorer for CSK in IPL history.
Suresh Raina for CSK:
Matches – 176, Runs – 4687, Avg – 32.32, SR – 136.89, 100 – 1, 50 – 33
Ambati Rayudu – #6
After spending nine years with Mumbai Indians, Ambati Rayudu joined CSK in 2018. Since then, he became a key part of CSK winning the IPL trophy in their comeback year from the ban.
Rayudu also played his role in CSK’s title wins in 2021 and 2023. In seven seasons, Rayudu scored almost 2,000 runs for CSK.
Ambati Rayudu for CSK:
Matches – 90, Runs – 1932, Avg – 29.72, SR – 129.31, 100 – 1, 50 – 8
Dwayne Bravo – #7
Bravo joined CSK in 2011 itself, but later became not only a franchise but also a stalwart of IPL. His bowling skills in the death overs were superb and he could work with the bat whenever he wanted.
Bravo remained with CSK till 2022 and won three trophies as a player. He is also CSK’s second highest wicket taker of all time. In both 2013 and 2015, Bravo won the Purple Cap as a CSK player, making him the first player to win this special award twice.
In 2015, he took 32 wickets – a joint-IPL record equaled only by Harshal Patel in 2021. At the time of his retirement in 2022, Bravo was the highest wicket-taker in IPL history.
Dwayne Bravo for CSK:
Matches – 116, Runs – 1004, Bat Average – 25.1, SR – 137.15, 50s – 2, Wickets – 140, Bowl Average – 22.47, Economy – 8.36
MS Dhoni – #1
As expected, the charismatic former CSK captain was given the crown. MS Dhoni’s ability as both a finisher and captain is great.
As a finisher, Dhoni won many matches on his own, while as both a wicketkeeper and captain, he was talented behind the stumps. In all five seasons when CSK won the tournament, Dhoni was the captain.
He is also the highest run scorer for CSK in IPL history.
MS Dhoni for CSK:
Matches – 248, Runs – 4865, Avg – 39.23, SR – 139.11, Over 50 – 22
Ravichandran Ashwin – #3
When it came to himself, Ashwin decided to go with the third rank. Just below Dhoni and Raina and above Gaikwad and Jadeja. Ashwin first rose to prominence in 2009 as an uncapped but street-smart spinner.
Ashwin stayed with CSK till 2015 and won two trophies during this period. The dismissal of in-form Chris Gayle for a duck in the 2011 IPL final is the stuff of folklore.
Ashwin returned to CSK in 2025, but after the drought he decided to retire completely.
Ravichandran Ashwin for CSK:
Matches – 106, Wickets – 97, Average – 25.39, Economy – 6.68
Faf du Plessis – #8
CSK’s Protea opener Faf du Plessis was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin in the only vacant spot. Du Plessis, normally a middle-order batsman, became the opening batsman for CSK.
He was an unused squad player when CSK won the IPL title in 2011. In 2018, his season was cut short due to injury, but he had some moments. In 2021, he was the second-highest run-scorer in the entire tournament and player of the match in the final.
Faf du Plessis for CSK:
Matches – 92, Runs – 2721, Avg – 35.33, SR – 131.44, Over 50 – 20
No surprise at No. 1, but what do you think of the rest of the rankings for Ashwin? 👀 pic.twitter.com/pFHIMEa4o7
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 10 May 2026
