The former Indian middle order batsman Ambati Rayudu has made it clear that he has no plans of retiring from IPL cricket anytime soon and he is actually expecting himself to be able to play in the IPL for the next cycle of 3 years as well.
Although Rayudu has not been retained by CSK as their first 4 players before the mega auction, it is very likely that the franchise will go after Rayudu in the mega auction again, as he was their most versatile batsman of the last cycle from 2018 to 2021 and performed every kind of role for the team with the bat.
CSK used Rayudu as an opener during the first year of their previous cycle and despite not having opened the batting much at any level before, Rayudu took to the role straightaway and scored heaps at the top of the order with Shane Watson. The opening pair of Rayudu and Watson was one of the main reasons why CSK comfortably qualified to the playoffs of IPL 2018 and finished in top 2.
Ambati Rayudu was one of CSK’s finishers in IPL 2021
During CSK’s last IPL winning campaign earlier this year, Rayudu was a vital cog for the team again, but in a different role. He was the lower middle order batsman for CSK whose role was to provide impetus to the innings against the spin bowlers after powerplay and at times, finish the innings as well in the latter parts, a role which he did pefectly again.
In a recent interview given to PTI, Ambati Rayudu heaped praise on CSK skipper MS Dhoni for getting the best out of him. The right hander also talked about the time when he was overlooked by the national selectors for the 2019 ODI World Cup and how CSK helped him come out of that tough phase.
Rayudu said although there has been no formal communication between him and the CSK management yet about his future at the franchise, he is hopeful that the franchise buys him in the upcoming mega auction and he dons the yellow jersey again.
