Key takeaways
- CSK have won five IPL titles: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, all under MS Dhoni.
- They have played 10 IPL finals, winning five and losing five, three of the defeats against Mumbai Indians.
- CSK missed IPL 2016 and 2017 after a two-year suspension linked to the 2013 betting case.
- In IPL 2026, CSK finished eighth with six wins and eight losses, missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
The CSK IPL titles list has five entries: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, with MS Dhoni as captain each time. CSK have played 10 IPL finals, winning five and losing five, more finals than any other team. They missed the 2016 and 2017 seasons due to a suspension and finished eighth in IPL 2026.
CSK IPL titles list at a glance
The table below covers every IPL final Chennai Super Kings have played, from the first season in 2008 to the last final they reached in 2023. Dhoni led the side in all 10 of them.
| Season | Opponent | Result | CSK captain | Player of the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Lost by 3 wickets | MS Dhoni | Yusuf Pathan (RR) |
| 2010 | Mumbai Indians | Won by 22 runs | MS Dhoni | Suresh Raina (CSK) |
| 2011 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Won by 58 runs | MS Dhoni | Murali Vijay (CSK) |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost by 5 wickets | MS Dhoni | Manvinder Bisla (KKR) |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Lost by 23 runs | MS Dhoni | Kieron Pollard (MI) |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Lost by 41 runs | MS Dhoni | Rohit Sharma (MI) |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Won by 8 wickets | MS Dhoni | Shane Watson (CSK) |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Lost by 1 run | MS Dhoni | Jasprit Bumrah (MI) |
| 2021 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Won by 27 runs | MS Dhoni | Faf du Plessis (CSK) |
| 2023 | Gujarat Titans | Won by 5 wickets (DLS) | MS Dhoni | Devon Conway (CSK) |
How many IPL titles have CSK won?
CSK have five IPL trophies, which is level with Mumbai Indians for the most by any franchise. The wins came in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. Outside the IPL, CSK also won the now discontinued Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014.
Their five final defeats came in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019. Mumbai Indians beat them in three of those five finals, which makes MI the side CSK have found hardest to beat on the biggest day.
All 10 CSK IPL finals, year by year
2008: Lost to Rajasthan Royals
In the very first IPL final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, CSK made 163/5. Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals chased it down off the last ball to win by three wickets. Yusuf Pathan was player of the final for his 56 off 39 balls and three wickets.
2010: Beat Mumbai Indians (title 1)
CSK posted 168/5 at the DY Patil Stadium and held Mumbai Indians to 146/9 for a 22-run win. Suresh Raina was named player of the final. This was the first IPL trophy for the franchise.
2011: Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (title 2)
Playing at home at Chepauk, CSK scored 205/5 and restricted RCB to 147/8. The 58-run win made CSK the first team to defend an IPL title. Opener Murali Vijay was player of the final.
2012: Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders
CSK made 190/3, again at Chepauk, but KKR chased it with two balls to spare. Manvinder Bisla’s innings for KKR won him the player of the final award, and Kolkata lifted their first title.
2013: Lost to Mumbai Indians
At Eden Gardens, Mumbai Indians made 148/9 and then kept CSK to 125/9. MI won by 23 runs and Kieron Pollard was player of the final.
2015: Lost to Mumbai Indians
Again at Eden Gardens, MI scored 202/5 and CSK finished on 161/8, a 41-run defeat. Rohit Sharma was player of the final. This was CSK’s last season before the two-year suspension.
2018: Beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (title 3)
In their comeback season, CSK chased 179 at the Wankhede Stadium with nine balls left. Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 117, still one of the highest scores in an IPL final, and CSK won by eight wickets.
2019: Lost to Mumbai Indians
The closest final CSK have played. Chasing 150 in Hyderabad, they ended on 148/7 and lost by one run. Jasprit Bumrah was player of the final for his tight spell at the death.
2021: Beat Kolkata Knight Riders (title 4)
Played in Dubai after the season moved to the UAE midway, this final saw CSK make 192/3 and hold KKR to 165/9. Faf du Plessis scored 86 and was player of the final. Ruturaj Gaikwad won the Orange Cap that season with 635 runs.
2023: Beat Gujarat Titans (title 5)
Rain pushed the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to the reserve day. Gujarat made 214/4, and CSK’s target was cut to 171 in 15 overs under the DLS method. Ravindra Jadeja hit the last two balls for six and four to seal a five-wicket win, and Devon Conway was player of the final.
Seasons when CSK did not reach the final
CSK made the playoffs in their first 10 seasons. The seasons where they fell short of the final, or missed the knockouts, are listed here.
- 2009: Lost the semi-final to Royal Challengers Bangalore in South Africa.
- 2014: Lost Qualifier 2 to Kings XI Punjab.
- 2020: Finished seventh, the first time CSK missed the playoffs.
- 2022: Finished ninth. Jadeja began the season as captain before handing the job back to Dhoni.
- 2024: Finished fifth with seven wins and seven losses, under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
- 2025: Finished 10th and last with four wins. Gaikwad was injured early and Dhoni led the rest of the season.
- 2026: Finished eighth with six wins and eight losses.
Why did CSK miss IPL 2016 and 2017?
CSK did not play in 2016 and 2017 because they were suspended for two years. On 14 July 2015, a committee appointed by the Supreme Court and headed by former Chief Justice RM Lodha suspended the franchise over the involvement of team official Gurunath Meiyappan in illegal betting linked to the 2013 IPL scandal. Rajasthan Royals received the same punishment.
Two temporary teams, Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions, filled the gap for those two seasons. Dhoni played for Pune during the suspension. CSK returned in 2018 and won the title in their first season back.
How did CSK do in IPL 2026?
IPL 2026 was a poor season. Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK won six and lost eight of their 14 matches, finishing eighth on 12 points. It was the third season in a row that they missed the playoffs. Their campaign ended on 21 May 2026 with an 89-run loss to Gujarat Titans.
The season had some high points. Sanju Samson, who joined from Rajasthan Royals in a trade for Jadeja and Sam Curran, was CSK’s top scorer with 477 runs and two centuries. CSK also beat Mumbai Indians by 103 runs at the Wankhede, their biggest IPL win by runs. Anshul Kamboj led the bowling with 21 wickets.
The biggest talking point was Dhoni. A calf strain ruled him out early and he did not play a single match in 2026, the first IPL season he missed since 2008. Gaikwad’s captaincy also drew criticism, and some former players called for Samson to take over as captain. After the season, head coach Stephen Fleming left the franchise, and CSK named Zaheer Khan as head coach for IPL 2027.
CSK season-by-season record in the IPL
This table shows every CSK season, with win-loss record and where they finished. No-result games are not included in the win and loss columns.
| Season | Won | Lost | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 9 | 7 | Runners-up |
| 2009 | 8 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 2010 | 9 | 7 | Champions |
| 2011 | 11 | 5 | Champions |
| 2012 | 10 | 8 | Runners-up |
| 2013 | 12 | 6 | Runners-up |
| 2014 | 10 | 6 | Qualifier 2 |
| 2015 | 10 | 7 | Runners-up |
| 2016 and 2017 | – | – | Suspended |
| 2018 | 11 | 5 | Champions |
| 2019 | 10 | 7 | Runners-up |
| 2020 | 6 | 8 | 7th, league stage |
| 2021 | 11 | 5 | Champions |
| 2022 | 4 | 10 | 9th, league stage |
| 2023 | 10 | 5 | Champions |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 | 5th, league stage |
| 2025 | 4 | 10 | 10th, league stage |
| 2026 | 6 | 8 | 8th, league stage |
The pattern is clear. CSK reached the playoffs in each of their first 10 seasons, but since the 2023 title they have not made the top four. With a new coach and an uncertain picture around Dhoni, IPL 2027 will be a big season for the franchise.
Frequently asked questions
How many times has CSK won the IPL?
CSK have won the IPL five times, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. MS Dhoni was captain for all five titles.
How many IPL finals has CSK played?
CSK have played 10 IPL finals, the most by any team. They won five and lost five, with three of the defeats against Mumbai Indians.
Why was CSK banned from IPL for two years?
A Supreme Court appointed committee led by Justice RM Lodha suspended CSK for 2016 and 2017 because team official Gurunath Meiyappan was found involved in illegal betting.
Where did CSK finish in IPL 2026?
CSK finished eighth in IPL 2026 with six wins and eight losses. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the title, beating Gujarat Titans in the final.
Who was player of the match in CSK’s 2023 IPL final?
Devon Conway was player of the match in the 2023 final, which CSK won by five wickets against Gujarat Titans under the DLS method.
Sources: Chennai Super Kings (Wikipedia), Business Standard on CSK’s 2026 season, Outlook India list of IPL final award winners, ETV Bharat on CSK’s 103-run win.
