Here are all three CSK players who won the Orange Cap, in order:
1. Matthew Hayden — IPL 2009
Matthew Hayden was in destructive form in the second edition of the IPL, scoring 572 runs in 12 matches for CSK. He averaged 52.00 and had a strike rate of 144.81. The 2009 season was held entirely in South Africa due to the Indian general elections, and Hayden dominated it from the front. He played 12 innings and scored less than 25 just once — in nine of those knocks, he scored 40 or more. His highest score that season was 89. Despite his brilliant run, CSK could not make the final.
He became the first Chennai Super Kings player to win the Orange Cap.
2. Michael Hussey — IPL 2013
Michael Hussey was a pillar of consistency for CSK in 2013, matching Chris Gayle’s then-record tally of 733 runs in 16 matches. He averaged 52.35 with a strike rate of 129.50. Unlike the power hitters around him, he relied on placement, timing, and intelligent shot selection. His highest score of 95 was a well-paced innings that helped CSK dominate their opponents. His contributions played a crucial role in CSK’s journey to the final, though they eventually lost to Mumbai Indians.
3. Ruturaj Gaikwad — IPL 2021
Ruturaj Gaikwad was the first uncapped Indian player to win the Orange Cap in the IPL. He scored 635 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 136.26, with a top score of 101*, still well below the highest individual score in IPL history. This was a special one — not just because CSK won the title that year, but because Gaikwad had been dropped early in IPL 2020 after poor form. His 2021 comeback was one of the best individual stories in recent IPL history.