CSK vs GT: Chennai Super Kings' unfavourable record in opening matches in every IPL season

CSK vs GT: MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings are all set to lock horns against defending champions Gujarat Titans in the opening match of IPL 2023 on March 31, 2023, Friday. The match is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad and is likely to begin at 7:30 PM IST. Ahead of the highly-anticipated contest, let's take a look at CSK's ominous record in opening matches across every IPL season. 

Chennai Super Kings' opening match in each season of IPL

Chennai Super Kings have won six matches in its opening encounter in IPL thus far and have lost seven games. Chennai Super Kings were not part of the tournament during the 2016 and 2017 seasons due to the ban imposed on the franchise over the spot-fixing controversy. In the 2022 season, Chennai lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets in their opening match. 

• 2008: CSK defeat Kings XI Punjab by 33 runs
• 2009: MI defeat CSK by 19 runs
• 2010: Deccan Chargers defeat CSK by 31 runs
• 2011: CSK defeat KKR by 2 runs
• 2012: MI defeat CSK by 8 wickets
• 2013: MI defeat CSK by 9 runs
• 2014: Kings XI Punjab defeat CSK by 6 wickets
• 2015: CSK defeat Delhi Capitals by 1 run
• 2018: CSK defeat MI by 1 wicket
• 2019: CSK defeat RCB by 7 wickets
• 2020: CSK defeat MI by 5 wickets
• 2021: Delhi Capitals defeat CSK by 7 wickets
• 2022: CSK lose to KKR by 6 wickets

CSK win: 6, CSK lost: 7

Also Read: IPL 2023: CSK SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities And Threats

The 2022 season was off to a dramatic start for CSK with Ravindra Jadeja taking over the captaincy role from MS Dhoni. However, the team produced dismal performances in the first half of the season, which led to the star-allrounder stepping down from the position and Dhoni taking back the captaincy. The Chennai-based franchise then concluded their campaign with a couple of wins but was placed at the bottom of the points table.

Also Read: CSK Team: Chennai Super Kings Squad, Schedule, Player And Match List For IPL 2023

CSK Team 2023: Full squad

MS Dhoni (c), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Chowdhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Deepak Chahar, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Kyle Jamieson, Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma.

Image: BCCI