Two precious gems of yellow jersey… Raina-Hayden included in CSK's 'Hall of Fame'
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Suresh Raina Matthew Hayden CSK Hall of Fame: Sunday evening was full of emotions at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. At the 'CSK Roar' event, the franchise inaugurated its 'Hall of Fame' by electing Suresh Raina and Matthew Hayden as the first members. The loyalty of 'Chinna Thala' and the magic of Hayden's 'Mongoose' bat are now immortalized in the history of Chennai.
Suresh Raina and Matthew Hayden were inducted into CSK Hall of Fame.
New Delhi. Chennai Super Kings is not just a team but an emotion for millions of fans. Just before the start of IPL 2026, Chennai's historic M.A. A scene was seen at Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) which brought tears to the eyes of the fans. The franchise officially unveiled its 'Hall of Fame' during its season-opening event 'CSK Roar'. The first two legends to join this prestigious club were India's 'Chinna Thala' Suresh Raina and Australia's aggressive opener Matthew Hayden.
Suresh Raina's name is recorded in golden letters in the history of Chennai Super Kings. After MS Dhoni, he is the second highest run scorer of the franchise (4686 runs in 176 matches). Raina's consistency can be gauged from the fact that out of 165 matches played by Chennai between 2008 and 2019, he missed only one match.
Raina was part of the title wins of 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021.
Raina was part of the title wins in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021. Even today, fans have not forgotten the 2010 final, where Raina won the title of 'Player of the Match' by playing a match-winning inning of 57 runs in 36 balls against Mumbai Indians. With 33 half-centuries, he is still considered the most reliable batsman of Chennai.
When Matthew Hayden created chaos with 'Mongoose' bat
Australian legend Matthew Hayden may have been a part of the team for the first three seasons (2008-2010), but his impact remained indelible. In 2009, he won the 'Orange Cap' by scoring 572 runs. Hayden is still remembered for his unique 'Mongoose' bat, which had a long handle and short blade. Hayden's aggressive batting laid the foundation for Chennai to win its first IPL and Champions League title in 2010.
Veterans fair and determination of sixth trophy
In this grand function organized on Sunday, not only Raina and Hayden, but many old 'OG' legends of Chennai also participated. Stars like Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu and Michael Hussey made the evening memorable with their presence. These former stars recalled the past glorious moments of Chennai and wished the team all the best to win the sixth IPL title in 2026.
About the Author
Active in journalism for about 15 years. Studied from Delhi University. Interested in sports especially cricket, badminton, boxing and wrestling. Covered IPL, Commonwealth Games and Pro Wrestling League events. From February 2022…read more
