Chennai Super Kings have never been a franchise that does things quietly, and their pre-season event ROAR’26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, March 22, was no exception. Before the franchise has bowled a single ball in IPL 2026, they have created a piece of history inducting Suresh Raina and Matthew Hayden as the first-ever members of the CSK Hall of Fame in a ceremony that had the Yellow Army in full voice.
Raina, who has spent virtually his entire IPL career in yellow and is known to fans simply as “Mr. IPL,” was always going to be first on any such list. Across 205 appearances for CSK, he amassed 5,528 runs a total that places him fifth on the all-time IPL run-scorers list with one century and 39 half-centuries. His ability to play match-winning innings under pressure, particularly in the middle overs, was central to CSK’s identity through their most dominant years. His induction is as much a recognition of what he meant to the fans as it is of what he contributed on the field.
Hayden’s selection alongside him is both fitting and a reminder of how far back CSK’s foundation goes. The powerhouse Australian opener was a wrecking ball at the top of the order during CSK’s formative IPL years, scoring 1,107 runs in just 32 matches at an average of 36.90 and a strike rate exceeding 137. He struck eight fifties and provided the platform from which CSK’s middle order could operate with freedom. To many fans who watched those early editions, Hayden’s name is inseparable from the franchise’s early swagger and audacity.
The evening extended well beyond the Hall of Fame ceremony. MS Dhoni whose presence at any CSK event remains the event’s most anticipated moment took to the stage to felicitate three special recipients. T20 World Cup winners Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson were recognised for their roles in India’s title triumph, with Dhoni presenting each of them with a special memento. Ayush Mhatre, who captained India’s Under-19 team to victory, also received recognition from the legendary captain. The sight of Dhoni honouring Samson who came to CSK from Rajasthan Royals as the centrepiece of a blockbuster trade carried a particular resonance, given what their partnership might mean for the franchise’s upcoming season.
Current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was also present throughout the evening, as was the OG Super Kings outfit Suresh Raina, Matthew Hayden, Murali Vijay, and S. Badrinath who took to the field as part of the evening’s special exhibition element, going up against the current CSK squad in a short match-up to the delight of the thousands present at Chepauk.
CSK are approaching IPL 2026 with a point to prove. Last season’s last-place finish their worst ever is the scar they carry into this edition. The arrivals of Samson at ₹18 crore, plus a revamped all-rounder battery, have generated renewed optimism. And events like ROAR’26, which blend nostalgia with energy and give the fan base a night to treasure before the season begins, remind everyone of why this franchise remains one of Indian cricket’s most emotionally resonant institutions.
