Forever Underrated Ambati Rayudu Signs Off In the Spotlight - Cricket Winner

Ambati Rayudu’s career has been a tough one to follow. After leading the Under-19 side in the 2004 World Cup, a side with a lot of future prospects, Ambati Rayudu faded away despite all his talent. His temper was an issues as he often got on the wrong side of the wrong people, once going after the Hyderabad Cricket Association as well.

On May 28th though, Ambati Rayudu finally announced a retirement, this time promising no U-turns. Like many incidents throughout his career, his retirement too has been an interesting story. He first announced his retirement after missing out on a spot in the 2019 World Cup, only to announce his comeback a few months later. Last season, he once again announced his retirement only for it to be taken back as the Chennai Super Kings management convinced him to stay on and play for a little longer.

The fact that the Chennai Super Kings asked him to stay on is proof of his value in the side. His career though has not been short of controversy. From the beginning, in 2008, his controversies started. His first run with the authorities began when he chose to play in the Indian Cricket League, which led to him being banned from official games conducted by the BCCI. He came into the IPL in 2009 though and has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians ever since.

From his initial days he has contributed immensely for them, and doubled up as wicket-keeper on many occasions as well. Mumbai unfortunately could not retain him in 2018, and he ended up with the Chennai Super Kings, starting a journey which pushed his career to different heights. In his first season with the Super Kings he was a very important part of their push for the title with 602 runs in the season. He opened the batting and later dropped down as well doing whatever was necessary to help with the team combination.

A World Cup spot after that performance was his for the taking. He got to play a stretch of games for India after that, but missed out for various reasons, resulting in him lashing out at the Selectors and also announcing his retirement.

Ambati Rayudu though remained an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings. In 2020, with Suresh Raina opting out of the season, Rayudu took the number three spot. The season did not go well but his performances were pretty good throughout. In 2021 and 2022, Rayudu again proved his worth with small contributions that often go unnoticed. He consistently provided cameos for the side but without too many substantial scores Ambati Rayudu could not stand out like the others.

In 2023, in his Final season, Rayudu finally came out of the shadows with another traditional cameo. Throughout the season Ambati Rayudu was often used only for his batting while he was subbed out via the impact sub rule in the second half. His batting too wasn’t used much with Ambati Rayudu often being sent towards the second half to go out and have a nice slog.

In the first Qualifier though, his 17 off 10 proved to be very valuable as CSK got enough to defend on a slow track. It was his contribution in the Final though which made the difference. Throughout his career, with Ambati Rayudu’s technique and timing, he has been a player who could take on bowlers who are often thorns to the other batters. He has a really good record against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan proving that he loves going after the best bowlers in the tournament.

Throughout the chase CSK had the pushes needed but in the last few overs, with the bowling attack left, it looked like CSK would not have the legs to push through. Mohit Sharma had a really good record this season in the death, but Ambati Rayudu once again did not bother. He backed himself and bought out his vintage lofted slog over the off-side. In his Final game he went trademark Rayudu as he went six, four, six to get the equation from 38 off 18 to 22 off 15. He did not finish the game but his 19 off 8 kept Chennai alive as Rayudu finished with yet another cameo that silently made a huge impact on the game.

A man of few words, often known to be a rebel, Ambati Rayudu signed off in a manner that resembles a career of what was and what could have been. He gave an emotional interview after the game as well, and his cameo proves that he will leave a hole in the CSK line-up as a man who silently gives his hundred percent with incredible cameos walks away.

After being touted as one of the players for the future back in 2004, Ambati Rayudu closed things out and kept his side alive with his grit. In the end it was only fitting that MS Dhoni called up Ambati Rayudu to collect the trophy, displaying Rayudu’s value in the side and showing the respect he has earnt from his teammates.