Amazon Prime Video has seriously missed a trick. Because how is there not yet an "All or Nothing" series on the Chennai Super Kings?

Apart from being the first sports unicorn in India and the most valuable IPL franchise, CSK has taken their fans on a roller-coaster ride in the past one and a half decades.

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From 2008 to 2015, they won two titles, finished as runners-up four times and never finished below fourth in the league phase. But, since returning from a two-year ban in 2018, they won, were runners-up and then dropped to seventh in the league stage. The Yellow Army lifted the cup again in 2021, only to fall to ninth the following year. They triumphed again in 2023 and then finished fifth in 2024. MSD's team, in recent years, is thus the very definition of "all or nothing".

While every CSK season is intriguing for the neutral observer, their fans may prefer the more consistent team of the past. Hope may be on the horizon for the faithful, in the form of 28-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad. Having been with Chennai Super Kings since 2020, he took over the captaincy ahead of IPL 2024 from "the" M.S. Dhoni. He could not have been blamed if he crumbled under the pressure. But, he had his best season with the bat and has a better captaincy record so far (50 per cent wins) than others who had attempted to fill Dhoni's shoes-Suresh Raina (33.33 per cent) and Ravindra Jadeja (25 per cent).

Gaikwad, who was retained for ₹18 crore, can turn to the 43-year-old Dhoni during moments of crisis for at least one more season as the veteran, too, was retained, for ₹4 crore. Other retained players were Jadeja (₹18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 crore) and Shivam Dube (₹12 crore). The team has also bet big on spin, signing Noor Ahmad for ₹10 crore and Ravichandran Ashwin for ₹9.75 crore.

IPL 2025: Five CSK players to watch out for this season

Ruturaj Gaikwad

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The captain had a brilliant IPL 2024-he was the second-highest run-getter behind Virat Kohli with 583 runs. Gaikwad scored at an astonishing average of 53-his best ever in the IPL-and a strike rate of 141.16. He has been one of CSK's best batters in their second innings with 2,380 runs from 66 games, at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 136.86. As captain, he stabilised CSK last season. This season will reveal if he can truly become Dhoni's successor.

Rachin Ravindra

The Kiwi got off to a good start last season, scoring 37 off 15 balls on his IPL debut and 46 off 20 in the next game. But, his form then fell away, though he maintained a strike rate of 160.86. The team used its right-to-match card to bring him back for Rs4 crore and he will be determined to do better and repay that faith. CSK has strong spin options, but he, too, can be handy with the ball if called upon.

Ravichandran Ashwin

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The retired India international returns home for what will perhaps be a last hurrah. He is one of the elites of the IPL-joint fifth in the list of all-time leading wicket-takers with 180 scalps to his name, and an economy rate of 7.12 in 212 matches. The 38-year-old spent seven seasons with CSK, winning two IPLs and two CLT20s, and this homecoming could just see him get back to his dazzling best.

Matheesha Pathirana

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The 22-year-old Sri Lankan had a strong IPL 2024. He played only six matches, but took 13 wickets at an average of 13-the best among bowlers with at least 10 wickets-and an economy rate of 7.68. He has been brilliant for CSK with 32 wickets in 18 games in the last season and he is also in good form-11 wickets in seven matches in T20Is in 2024-25.

Sam Curran

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The 26-year-old Englishman looks like a smart buy at ₹2.4 crore. He did not set the world alight during his first stint with CSK (2020-2021), especially with the bat. But, he did pick up 22 wickets. Since then he picked up the 2022 T20I World Cup Player of the series award and has stepped up his performance with the bat. Curran's big-hitting ability and death bowling undeniably make him an X-factor player.