Hayden went undercover on Chennai streets | Photo Credit: Instagram Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden went shopping on the streets of Chennai in an undercover fashion to disguise his identity. He was spotted shopping on the Chennai streets as he took to Instagram to share pictures and videos of his little adventure. Hayden is currently in India for his commentary stint in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019. Hayden used a fake beard to hide his identity as he bargained with shopkeepers in the busy markets of Chennai to buy stuff. He later revealed that he had a bet with his former teammate Rajasthan Royals mentor Shane Warne to go on the streets and buy some items under Rs 1000. “It was a challenge by Warne to buy items for under Rs 1,000. That’s why I went around the market to buy some lungis, shirts, Rajini sunnies and a watch,” said Hayden. Hayden, who had an illustrious international career with Australia was regarded as one of the fiercest power-hitters in the game. He played 103 Test matches and 161 ODIs for Australia amassing 8625 and 6133 runs respectively in the two formats. His love for Chennai is not a secret to anyone as he played for the city-based franchise Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He played three seasons in the IPL amassing 1107 runs in 32 matches at an average of 36.90 and a brilliant strike rate of 137.51 including eight fifties. Hayden was assisted by a local boy in his shopping as he bargained like a boss with the shopkeepers. He later revealed that he won the challenge with Warne. "I paid the boy Rs 100. And I can proudly tell you that I won the challenge (with Warne)," Hayden said.<doc-sep>Whistle podu! Former CSK player Matthew Hayden goes T Nagar shopping in veshti Matthew Hayden is in the city to do the commentary for the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match which is to take place on Sunday. Sports IPL 2019 A tall man sporting a veshti and walking down the streets of Chennai’s Theagaraya Nagar or T Nagar is not an uncommon sight. However when that man happens to be the former opener of the Chennai Super Kings, Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden, it’s definitely bound to catch eyeballs. That is exactly what happened when Matthew Hayden went street shopping in Chennai earlier this week. The cricketer posted a picture of himself from his Instagram handle, and captioned it “Bit of undercover shopping at T Nagar Street Mall in Chennai.” In the photo, Hayden is seen sporting a fake beard and a hat, while another photo shows him dressed in a traditional veshti. He later stated to the Times of India that this was done in response to a challenge from his former teammate, Australian player Shane Warne. Warne had challenged the former CSK opener to go street shopping in Chennai and to buy things for under 1000 rupees. Matthew Hayden is in the city to do commentary for the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match which is to take place on Sunday. Taking up the challenge, the cricketer donned a cap and sported a false beard and even wore a traditional veshti and took to the streets. With the help of a local boy, who he had paid to help him manoeuvre the area, Hayden stepped out for a day in the city. In one video posted on social media, Hayden can be seen bargaining for a watch. Matthew Hayden is one of the most popular foreign cricketers to have been recruited for the Indian Premier League. His stint with the Chennai Super Kings lasted from 2008 to 2010, with him earning the title of the highest scorer of the IPL in 2009. Hayden played a large role in the CSK’s 2010 IPL victory, as an opener. He is also remembered for his use of the ‘mongoose bat’ which helped him clinch the win for the CSK in the 2010 IPL finals. In that one season alone, Hayden scored 346 runs in 16 matches with the use of the mongoose bat. He even managed to easily score 93 runs off 43 balls utilising the said bat. Image courtesy: YouTube screenshot<doc-sep>
When former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden walked out in the middle, bowlers feared the worst. Thankfully for them, the beast has shifted from the cricket pitch to the commentary box and was recently spotted in a lungi while street shopping in Chennai. Why lungi? The 47-year-old Aussie opened for Chennai Super Kings for three IPL seasons (2008-10) and built a huge fan base down south for his successful outings with the bat with the "whistle podu" franchise. Aware of his fan following, Hayden ditched his usual look and sported a fake beard to disguise himself and avoid being recognised while shopping in Chennai's crowded T Nagar area. The Aussie was in the city to do commentary for the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match on Sunday. "Bit of undercover shopping at T Nagar Street Mall in Chennai," the veteran wrote on his Instagram page. In a video posted by Hayden, he can be seen successfully bargaining with a vendor for a wristwatch. As it turns out, Hayden was sent on the secret shopping adventure by his mate and legendary spinner Shane Warne. “It was a challenge by Warne to buy items for under Rs 1000. That’s why I went around the market to buy some lungis, shirts, Rajini sunnies and a watch," Hayden told TOI As for fans on the Internet, the big man that he is, along with his fake beard were an easy giveaway. "i still can identify you. if a was there i would shout your name loud," wrote one. "A lungi, hat and glasses... They would recognise you out of curiosity!" "Did people actually get fooled by your disguise?" "I’m telling you that’s a very ordinary disguise." "Haydos, are you serious ,? you are recognizable.. and in Chennai I am sure you must be caught , you have a huge fan following there, (sic). "Chennai people always loves you Haydos." "Haha I recon keep it on bro would love to see ya out at main with it." Hayden is having a cracker of a time in the ongoing Indian Premier League and his Instagram account shows just that.