There was a time when the Champions League Twenty20 wasn’t just another franchise tournament; it was the event that brought together the best T20 teams from every corner of the cricketing world. IPL champions, Big Bash winners, and top domestic outfits from South Africa and New Zealand battled for supremacy. For fans, it was pure adrenaline, and for teams, it was a chance to prove their league’s dominance on the global stage.
And when it came to proving dominance, few did it better than the Chennai Super Kings. Under MS Dhoni’s leadership, CSK turned the Champions League cricket into their own playground, showing the same mix of calmness, structure, and ruthlessness that defined their IPL legacy. Between 2010 and 2014, Chennai became the undisputed global standard of consistency in T20 franchise cricket.
How many CLT20 Titles CSK has won?
Chennai Super Kings have been the winners of the CLT20 tournament twice. But, what’s more interesting is the fact that they became the only IPL side, to have won the tournament in the same year they were crowned IPL Champions.
2010: The First CLT20 Title for CSK
After lifting their maiden IPL title earlier that year, Chennai carried their red-hot form into the 2010 Champions League Twenty20. Hosted in South Africa, the conditions were vastly different from India: bouncy pitches, seam-friendly wickets, and larger boundaries. But CSK, being CSK, adapted like pros.
Group Stage Dominance
Their campaign began with a commanding win over Central Districts, where Ravichandran Ashwin’s 3 for 24 and tight spells from Muralitharan helped defend 151 with ease, sealing a 57-run victory. Next, they crushed Wayamba by 97 runs as Murali Vijay (68 off 46) and Suresh Raina (87 off 44)* powered CSK to 200 for 3 before Bollinger and Murali ran through the Lankan side.
Their only setback came against Victoria Bushrangers, a Super Over loss after both teams tied on 162, despite Raina’s fluent 48 and Dhoni’s late charge. By then, though, Chennai had already sealed a semifinal berth, and what followed would go down as one of the finest chapters in Champions League Twenty20 history.
Raina’s Semifinal Blitz
No CSK performance from the early years can be complete without the mention of Suresh Raina. And that is what happened in the semifinal against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Our Chinna Thala played one of the most iconic knocks in Champions League cricket history, a blazing 94 off 48 balls. It was a display of controlled aggression and perfect timing. He danced down to pacers, lofted spinners effortlessly, and powered CSK into the final.
Behind the scenes, MS Dhoni’s captaincy was as sharp as ever. Every bowling change worked, and Ashwin’s control in the middle overs kept RCB on a leash.
The Final Masterclass
The final against the Warriors in Johannesburg was vintage CSK: calm, clinical, and composed. Muttiah Muralitharan and R. Ashwin turned the screws, sharing five wickets between them to restrict the South African side to just 128. Then Murali Vijay’s fluent fifty sealed the deal as Chennai cruised home to their first CLT20 title.
Ashwin was rightly named Player of the Tournament for his 13 wickets. The win was a statement; CSK champions had arrived on the world stage. The combination of Vijay’s elegance, Raina’s firepower, Dhoni’s tactical brain, and a perfectly balanced attack made them unstoppable.
For the first time, an IPL team had conquered the global T20 stage, and it was fitting that it was Dhoni’s men in yellow. And in just one season they had added two titles to the long and upcoming list of Chennai Super Kings trophies.
2014: The Second CLT20 Triumph for CSK
Four years later, the Champions League Twenty20 returned, and so did CSK; sharper, hungrier, and with unfinished business. Having missed out on the title in the seasons in between, Chennai entered the 2014 CLT20 with experience, stability, and their trademark self-belief.
A Roller-Coaster Start
CSK’s campaign didn’t start perfectly; they stumbled early with a narrow loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, but as always, once momentum arrived, they were a freight train. Their turnaround began with a crushing win over the Dolphins, where Brendon McCullum (49 off 29) and Suresh Raina (90 off 43) went ballistic, powering CSK to 242/6, one of the highest totals in Champions League Twenty20 history. In reply, Ashish Nehra and Mohit Sharma dismantled the South African side, sharing five wickets to secure a 54-run win. The middle order, led by Bravo’s cameos and Dhoni’s control, added stability, while the bowlers regained rhythm. By the end of the group stage, Chennai had rediscovered their trademark groove, confident, ruthless, and ready for the knockouts.
Semifinal Domination
The semifinal against Kings XI Punjab was a one-sided affair that showcased Chennai’s depth. Batting first, they posted a commanding total of 182, thanks to contributions from Raina and Dhoni. Then came the bowling masterclass. Nehra’s early breakthroughs and Mohit’s discipline crippled Punjab’s chase before it could start. A fitting revenge for defeating us in Qualifiers 2 in the same year.
Every move Dhoni made worked: field placements, bowling rotations, and even the timing of introducing spin. It was CSK’s tactical clarity at its peak.
Raina’s Iconic Final
The final against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore was the defining moment of CSK’s second global conquest. Chasing a competitive total of 181, Chennai lost early wickets, but Suresh Raina turned the final into a personal highlight reel. His 109 off 62 balls remains one of the finest knocks ever in Champions League cricket.
Raina toyed with KKR’s bowlers, mixing elegance with sheer power. Every big hit felt inevitable. As he raised his bat after another century on the big stage, Dhoni and the dugout knew the title was coming home again.
CSK chased down the target with ease, claiming their second Champions League T20 title and reaffirming their global dominance.
The Pillars of CSK’s CLT20 Success
The hallmark of CSK’s Champions League Twenty20 success was their collective strength, a side where everyone stood up when it mattered. In the 2010 CLT20, Subramaniam Badrinath’s calm 52 off 40 against Central Districts earned him Man of the Match, while Murali Vijay’s series of fifties set the tone up top.
Michael Hussey stepped in during the final, guiding the chase with trademark composure. Fast forward to 2014, and the same spirit defined the CSK champions: Dwayne Bravo’s 69 off 37 in the semifinal, Pawan Negi’s five-wicket haul in the final, and Raina’s blistering ton under pressure. Every Champions League cricket triumph they earned came from belief in the system, a tight-knit core that worked like one unstoppable machine.
The Legacy Lives On
When the Champions League Twenty20 folded after 2014, CSK walked away as two-time CLT20 champions; one of only two teams to do so. Their performances were a masterclass in adaptability and leadership.
For fans, those nights under the lights; Raina’s blazing hundreds, Ashwin’s guile, Dhoni’s calm finishes; remain priceless memories of when Champions League cricket truly felt like a global festival.
Even today, years after the tournament ended, the legacy of CSK’s Champions League glory continues to shine bright. In an era filled with short-lived leagues, Chennai’s dominance stood tall, proving that when it came to global franchise cricket, the yellow jersey always found a way to win.
