IPL: Top 5 CSK Players with most Runs at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai

Faf du Plessis, Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Chepauk Stadium in Chennai is a very important venue in the history of the Indian Premier League, having hosted a total of 68 matches since the inception of the league. The teams batting first have been successful at this venue, having won 42 times.

It is the home ground of one of the most successful teams in the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings. CSK have played a total of 57 games at this venue and have managed to win 41.

The venue has witnessed some incredible performances by CSK players over the years. CSK have scored their highest total at this venue, which is also the third-highest total in the history of the Indian Premier League.

This article will focus on the top five CSK players with the most IPL runs at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. From iconic innings to consistent performances, these players have left their mark at the venue and have helped the team build a formidable record at home.

Here are the 5 CSK Players with most IPL runs at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai:

5. Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis Celebrating. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

The former Proteas skipper made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2012 after he was roped in at the 2011 mega auction. He scored a half-century in his fourth game and won his first Player of the Match award.

Faf had an extended run for Chennai and did really well for them. Faf du Plessis ended his CSK run as the third-highest run-scorer for them with 2721 runs in 86 innings at an average of 35.33 and a strike rate of 131.44.

He featured in 19 games for CSK at the Chepauk and finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer at the venue. He scored 553 runs in 17 innings at an average of 36.86 and a strike rate of 119.43. Du Plessis made four half-centuries at the Chepauk. His last half-century at the venue came during the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League.

Faf du Plessis’ best performance for Chennai Super Kings came during the 2021 edition. He made 633 runs in 16 games at an average of 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.2. Du Plessis finished as the second-highest run-scorer behind CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad during that season. CSK won the IPL trophy for the fourth time in 2021.

4. Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The former Australian batter, Michael Hussey, played for the Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2013. In 2014, Mumbai Indians picked Hussey for INR 5 crore at the auction. However, he returned to the CSK squad in 2015 at his base price of INR 1.5 crore and made his last appearance in the tournament that year. Hussey is the current batting coach of the four-time champions.

Michael Hussey had a successful career as a batter for Chennai Super Kings. He played in 50 games for the team, scoring 1768 runs at an average of 42.09 and a strike rate of 123.63. Hussey was the first player to score a century for Chennai Super Kings, which happened in the team’s very first game of the tournament. At Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, Hussey scored 848 runs in 22 games at an average of 47.11 and a strike rate of 125.81, including seven half-centuries.

Michael Hussey holds the record for being the only player who has scored over 700 runs for Chennai Super Kings in a season. In the 2013 season of the Indian Premier League, he scored 733 runs in 17 innings at an impressive average of 52.35 and a strike rate of 129.5.

Hussey won the orange cap that season for being the leading run-scorer and became the second player in CSK’s history to achieve this feat. Additionally, during his time with CSK, he won the Player of the Match award on ten occasions.

3. Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay. (Photo: IANS)

The former Indian opener made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2009 and played till 2013. In 2014, he played for Delhi Daredevils and played for Kings XI Punjab from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, he came back to CSK and played till 2020. 

Murali Vijay made 1708 runs in 70 innings for CSK at an average of 25.87 and a strike rate of 125.12. Additionally, he is one of the two batters who have made two centuries in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.

Vijay played 29 games for CSK at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, during which he scored 894 runs at an average of 33.11 and a strike rate of 135.24. He was the first Indian batter to score a century for CSK in the IPL.

On April 3, 2010, he scored an impressive 127 runs off just 56 deliveries against Rajasthan Royals at the Chepauk, still the highest individual score by a batter at the Chepauk Stadium. Both of his centuries for CSK have come at Chepauk.

Vijay played 106 games in the IPL and scored 2619 runs at an average of 25.93 and a strike rate of 121.87. In 2016, Vijay was appointed the captain of the Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab). Under his captaincy, the team won three out of eight games.

 His best season with the bat came in 2010 while he was a part of CSK. Vijay made 458 runs in 15 games in 2010 at an average of 35.23 and a strike rate of 156.84, including one century and two half-centuries.

2. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Apart from being the most successful captain in IPL’s history, MS Dhoni has been one of the most decorated batters for CSK. He has played 206 games for the team and scored 4430 runs at an average of 40.27 and a strike rate of 137.06. Dhoni has scored 22 half-centuries for CSK in the Indian Premier League. Under his captaincy, CSK have won four IPL trophies and the Champions League T20 twice.

MS Dhoni is fondly called ‘Thala’ by CSK fans, which means head or leader in Tamil. At the Chepauk, Dhoni has aggregated 1375 runs in 55 games at an average of 42.96 and a strike rate of 143.97, which is the most by him at a single venue in IPL. Seven of his 22 half-centuries have come at the Chepauk only. 

In CSK’s second game against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023, MS Dhoni became the seventh player to score over 5000 runs in the tournament. He has made a total of 5004 runs in 236 games in  IPL while representing Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant at an average of 39.09 and a strike rate of 135.53. He has scored 24 half-centuries in IPL. Dhoni has remained unbeaten in 80 innings so far, which is the most in IPL.

1. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

A list containing batting records for CSK is incomplete without the inclusion of Suresh Raina. Raina is the greatest batter for CSK in the IPL’s history and is known as Mr. IPL. He played for CSK from 2008 to 2015 and was picked up again by the franchise in 2018 when they returned after serving a two-year ban. Raina played his last game for CSK in 2021.

He finished as the leading run-scorer for CSK and finished his career with 4687 runs in 176 games at an average of 32.32 and a strike rate of 136.88. Raina is the leading run-scorer for CSK at the Chepauk. During his stay, Raina accumulated 1498 runs at the Chepauk at an average of 29.96 and a strike rate of 135.32. His only century in IPL came at Chepauk.

Besides the 2021 season, Raina scored over 350 runs in each season of the Indian Premier League. His best season with the bat came in 2013 when he scored 548 runs in 18 games at an average of 42.15 and a strike rate of 150.13. He made a century and four half-centuries that season. Raina scored over 500 runs again in 2014 and scored five half-centuries.