Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden created a new sensation when he introduced the Indian Premier League’s ‘mongoose bat’ for the first time almost a decade ago. The bat used by the former batsman Chennai Super Kings featured a long handle, which decreased the striking surface to maximize the underhand effect.
But not many CSK franchise players, including skipper MS Dhoni, were a fan of using the mongoose bat before Hayden used it, the Aussie legend said in a CSK Live chat.
Giving perspective is hard on the mongoose bat. Hayden has many questions regarding this product. From a player’s perspective, they always wonder how a player can use half a bat. Hayden recalls saying to MS Dhoni, ‘Mate, I’ll give you anything in life. Please don’t use this bat”.
The fact is, it goes 20 meters further when Hayden hit from the center of this bat. The bat was a good step, and the decision to use it was brave.
Also, the Aussie southpaw finished as top scorer in the 2009 season and bagged the coveted Orange Cap for the same. In the 2010 season CSK legend, Suresh Raina had previously hailed Hayden’s 93-run masterclass against Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) as his favorite innings in IPL history.
