Chennai Super Kings inducted franchise legends Suresh Raina and Matthew Hayden into their inaugural Hall of Fame during the pre-season fan event ‘ROAR 2026’ at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
Ahead of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League, the five-time champions hosted the fan engagement event at Chepauk, celebrating the franchise’s legacy and its iconic contributors.
Announcing the honour, CSK wrote on X:
“Before the legacy… there were these two. Our first Hall of Fame inductees: Suresh Raina & Matthew Hayden.”
Before the legacy… there were these two.
Our first Hall of Fame inductees: Suresh Raina & Matthew Hayden #WhistlePodu #Roar26 pic.twitter.com/W2Q1D6lTXD
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 22, 2026
Raina, fondly known as “Mr. IPL,” was a cornerstone of CSK’s batting lineup over the years. He remains one of the league’s all-time greats, having scored 5,528 runs in 205 matches, including a century and 39 fifties, making him the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Hayden, meanwhile, brought explosive firepower at the top during the early seasons. The former Australian opener scored 1,107 runs in 32 matches at an impressive average of 36.90 and a strike rate of 137.51, registering eight fifties.
The event also saw MS Dhoni honour recent achievers, including Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and U-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre, presenting them with special mementoes.
World champions honoured by the man himself #Roar26 #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/eiy8oKoQZQ
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 22, 2026
Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK will be aiming for a strong comeback this season after finishing at the bottom of the table last year. With a revamped squad following the mini-auction, the franchise will be targeting a record sixth IPL title.