Ambati Rayudu rejects Faf du Plessis, Matthew Hayden, calls Australia CSK’s greatest opener

Former Chennai Super Kings batsman Ambati Rayudu recently ranked his top five greatest openers for CSK in IPL history.

Rayudu played for CSK across 6 seasons from 2018 to 2023, winning three IPL trophies with them in the process. With 1932 runs in 90 matches for the franchise, he is the sixth-highest run-scorer of all time in the league.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Rayudu was asked to rank the five players who he feels are CSK’s all-time greatest opening batsmen in the IPL.

“He can adapt to different situations” – Ambati Rayudu on his No. 5 choice

Rayudu chose South Africa’s Faf du Plessis for the fifth position. Du Plessis, usually a middle-order batsman, took over the opening slot for CSK whenever asked.

After joining CSK in 2011, Du Plessis stayed till 2021 and was part of three title-winning teams for CSK. Of Du Plessis’s 86 IPL innings for CSK, he was the opening batsman in 59 of them.

Du Plessis is the second-highest run-scorer for CSK so far in the opening position. His crowning glory at CSK was undoubtedly in 2021 when he finished second in the Orange Cap table with 633 runs and helped CSK win the title after a disappointing season in 2020.

Explaining his choice, Rayudu said, “He has played a very important role in CSK’s success over the years. He is quite versatile; he can adapt to different situations. He has always played the role that the team needed from him.”

“Batting with him was very special for me” – Ambati Rayudu on his No. 4 selection

At number 4, Ambati Rayudu chose former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson. Watson spent only the last three years of his IPL career at CSK after joining CSK in 2018.

Watson had an immediate impact on CSK when asked to move from a middle-order role to an opening batsman in 2018. That year, he scored 555 runs with 2 centuries, including a century in the final, as CSK won the IPL title in his comeback year after a 2-year ban.

An injury to Faf du Plessis meant that Ambati Rayudu was asked to partner Watson at the top that year. Rayudu also scored a century against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the league stage that year.

Watson was not at his best over the next two years, but played a memorable inning of 80 on a bloody knee in the final of the 2019 season, which CSK lost to Mumbai Indians by one run.

About Watson, Ambati Rayudu said, “He has played for CSK for a limited time, but his impact has been huge. He had some memorable seasons, played some amazing match-winning innings. Batting with him especially in 2018 was quite special for me and we really connected with the opening pair.”

“I always admire his batting” – Ambati Rayudu on his No. 3 selection

For No. 3, Rayudu decided to go with former Indian opener Murali Vijay. Vijay and Rayudu played together for CSK for three seasons till 2020, but Vijay’s best performances for CSK came in his first stint in the early 2010s.

Vijay played for CSK between 2009 and 2013 in his first stint and played many memorable innings. Against Rajasthan Royals in 2010, he scored 127 runs which strengthened their claim for the T20 World Cup later that year.

CSK made a memorable comeback from the bottom of the table to win the title that year and Vijay finished as their season’s second-highest run-scorer.

In 2011, CSK successfully defended their IPL title and Vijay was at the forefront. In the final against RCB, he scored a memorable 95 which earned him the Player of the Match award.

In 2012, he was again at the forefront for CSK as they made it to their third consecutive IPL final. In the second qualifier, he scored a brilliant century against Delhi Capitals to take CSK to the final for the third consecutive time.

In the early 2010s, Ambati Rayudu was not associated with CSK but was part of their arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians.

On Murali Vijay he said, “He [Vijay] He has been the man who put opening batsmen on the map in the IPL. He used to face fast bowlers and his signature pickup shot at midwicket was quite special. Even though I was playing for MI, [I]Always praised his batting. It is very nostalgic to see him and his swaggering players coming out in yellow against us and playing some beautiful innings. His contribution to CSK will always be at the highest level.”

Also read: Why does MS Dhoni stay away during match days? CSK coach reveals truth and comeback plan

“He will turn it on for CSK and himself” – Ambati Rayudu on his No. 2 selection

Ambati Rayudu remained at the second position along with current CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Gaikwad joined the CSK team in 2019 and made his debut in 2020. Since then, he has become CSK’s most important batsman over the years and eventually their captain in 2024.

Gaikwad impressed in his debut season by scoring three consecutive fifties, but 2021 has revealed a new facet to his game. After starting the season as an uncapped player, he won the Orange Cap as CSK won the IPL title. Gaikwad became the second player to win the Orange Cap and the IPL title in the same season.

When CSK won the title once again in 2023, Gaikwad was their second-highest run-scorer in that season.

At present, no player has more IPL runs than Ruturaj Gaikwad as an opening batsman for CSK. In 2026, he has struggled for form, scoring just 178 runs in 8 matches at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 121. Under his captaincy, CSK is struggling at the bottom of the table.

Ambati Rayudu talks about Gaikwad’s rise from being an uncapped player to becoming the captain of CSK.

“As a young player, it was not easy to go into a team that has such accomplished seniors and match-winners. And to cement his place and earn the respect of the entire team and eventually become the captain because of his performances and the kind of calmness he brings to the opening batting. He is quite special. He is having a tough season so far, but I am sure he will turn it around for CSK and himself”, he said.

Ambati Rayudu crowns Australian legend as CSK’s greatest opener

For his No. 1 selection, Ambati Rayudu decided to go with the former Australian legend, fondly called “Mr. Cricket” – Michael Hussey.

Hussey enjoyed some very productive years at CSK from 2008 to 2013. He moved to Mumbai Indians in 2014 but returned to CSK in 2015.

In his first IPL match in 2008, Hussey scored a century against Punjab Kings while batting at number 3. Brendon McCullum is the only other player to score a century in his first IPL match.

Hussey did not change the opening until 2011, but he got a great performance in 2013. CSK finished runners-up to MI that season, but Hussey won the Orange Cap that year.

After his retirement, Hussey has been serving as the batting coach of CSK since 2018.

Ambati Rayudu talked about Hussey’s impact as both a player and coach for CSK.

“He’s a player who has played in conditions that are not easy at all. Pairing him with Hados.” [Matthew Hayden] as well as monk [Murali Vijay] During those years and played some amazing innings for CSK. Played some match-winning innings and also won the Orange Cap. For me, Mike Hussey will be No. 1 not only because of his batting but also because of his coaching, in terms of grooming all the other openers for CSK after him, so he is quite special,” he concluded.

Statistics of players selected in this ranking

The five players mentioned by Ambati Rayudu in this chat are also the top five run-scorers for CSK as opening batsmen in IPL history, although not in that order.

The following table lists the statistics of these five players as opening batsmen for CSK in the IPL.

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The greatest opening batsman of CSK ever is… pic.twitter.com/nSU57Who5l

??? ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 2 May 2026