Chennai Super Kings, popularly known as CSK, has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of T20 franchise cricket. They have qualified for the IPL playoffs in ten out of the 11 seasons they have played. Besides, CSK have also captured two Champions League T20 titles.
The Chennai-based franchise has been so successful because the team captain MS Dhoni and the team management back the players. Many players have performed their best when they don the CSK jersey in IPL. Even many overseas players have said that CSK felt like home to them. So, in this article, we will have a glance at the five highest partnerships for the Super Kings in IPL involving two overseas batsmen.
5. Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – 102 runs vs. Delhi, IPL 2018
Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson played an integral role in the success of the Chennai Super Kings. They were two of the main players in CSK’s IPL 2018 triumph.
The Australian-South African pair opened the innings for the Super Kings in their league game against the Delhi Capitals in Pune. Watson dominated the opposition bowlers and scored 78 runs off 40 deliveries. Meanwhile, du Plessis hit 33 runs from 33 balls. Faf supported Watson to perfection as the opening duo scored 102 runs from just 10.5 overs.
4. Highest non-opening partnership for CSK involving two overseas batsmen: Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali – 108 runs, IPL 2021
In the recently suspended IPL 2021 season, Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis starred for CSK. Their batting performances helped Chennai climb to the top of the standings.
In their last league game against the Mumbai Indians, du Plessis and Ali stitched up a fantastic partnership. They added 108 runs for the second wicket, with both batters scoring a fifty. They took the score from 4/1 to 112/2.
3. DR Smith and Brendon McCullum – 109, IPL 2015
Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum will go down as one of the most destructive pairs in IPL history. The two batsmen owned the opposition bowling attacks in the powerplay overs.
In an IPL 2015 match against Mumbai, Smith and McCullum scored 109 runs for the first wicket off just 7.2 overs. Playing at Wankhede Stadium, Smith scored a 30-ball 62, while McCullum got out after scoring 46 runs off 20 deliveries. Chennai chased a 184-run target in that match in just 16.4 overs.
2. DR Smith and Brendon McCullum – 123, IPL 2014
In CSK’s first match of IPL 2014, Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum destroyed the Punjab bowling attack. They added 123 runs for the first wicket in Abu Dhabi.
Their magnificent opening stand guided Chennai to a 205-run total in 20 overs. Unfortunately, Glenn Maxwell’s superb performance ensured Smith and McCullum’s efforts went in vain.
1. Highest partnership between two overseas batsmen for CSK: Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – 181*, IPL 2020
The only pair of overseas batsmen to have built a 150+ partnership for CSK is Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson. It was the last season of Watson’s IPL career.
In that season, he formed a splendid partnership with du Plessis during the match against Punjab. Chasing 179 to win, the two batsmen scored 181 runs for the opening wicket in 17.4 overs, making sure that CSK won by 10 wickets in the end.
