Mike Hussey with MSD and Suresh Raina (Source: @CSKFansOfficials/x.com)
After the Indian Premier League was introduced to Indian cricket, fans got another reason to celebrate the real thrills of the exciting T20 format. Since 2008, every summer has transformed into a festival of T20 madness, packed with unforgettable knocks, sensational spells, and countless moments of pure cricketing magic.
In these two months of the tournament, the teams become a family, and fans also make them their family. But this season brings a twist that’s hard to digest. After years of forming an unbreakable bond with the Chennai Super Kings, Ravindra Jadeja has been traded to the Rajasthan Royals, leaving fans stunned.
But this is not the first time that the CSK has taken such a bold step. Before the 2014 IPL, the franchise stunned everyone by releasing Mike Hussey, the very player who had just won the Orange Cap. Let’s look back at the shocking release.
Mike Hussey delivers a season of wonders for CSK
Since the Chennai Super Kings was introduced into the IPL arena, Mike Hussey has been with the team since the team. Over the years, the Australian batter became an opponent’s nightmare and remained the biggest hope for the Super Kings. Lifting the IPL trophies with the yellow brigade in 2010 and 2011, the real spark of Hussey was yet to come.
In the 2013 IPL season, the world witnessed another Aussie domination in the yellow jersey. Facing their arch-rivals in the first match, Hussey’s campaign started with a poor outing, but that was a blueprint for his exceptional season.
In the very next match against Punjab, he roared back to life with an unbeaten 86, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most spectacular seasons of his IPL career.
In 17 matches, he scored 733 runs with an average of 52.36 with six half-centuries. His standout knock came against the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he smashed an impressive 95, his highest score of the season.
Facing the Mumbai Indians in the final, the Chennai Super Kings had the biggest heartbreak. After Hussey walked away, scoring only one run, CSK failed to chase down the total of 149 runs. With that, CSK faced a 23-run defeat.
CSK trigger shockwaves by dropping their season’s standout hero
Even though the Chennai Super Kings lost the final clash, Mike Hussey secured the Orange Cap in the IPL 2013 season. After the season ended, fans were all excited to see some more fireworks from Hussey, but the management had some other plans. They released Mike Hussey, and the entire cricket world remained stunned.
From claiming the Orange Cap with stunning knocks to leading CSK to the final, Mike Hussey’s release just months after his heroics shocked fans. In the IPL 2014 auction, the Mumbai Indians didn’t lose the chance and bought him for five crore.
Releasing Mike Hussey, the Chennai Super Kings ended their journey in the knockouts, but Hussey failed to carry on his form. In nine matches, he scored 209 runs with two half-centuries. In the next season, the CSK management brought him back, and the Aussie batter represented the team for two more years.
Even after hanging up his boots, Mike Hussey stayed deeply connected to CSK, joining the franchise as their batting coach. In the past 18 seasons, the franchise has gone through so many ups and downs, and even some bold moves have grabbed attention. Yet, among all the player releases, the shock of letting go of Hussey remains one of the most unforgettable moments in the team’s history.
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