An underdog Hero of the Indian Cricket Team
Ambati Rayudu is a name every cricket fan is familiar with. Ambati Rayudu is a veteran Indian cricketer who’s enjoyed considerable success in International cricket and the Indian Premier League. At age 16, Rayudu came into the limelight after scoring an unbeaten 177 runs against England in the U-19 ODI series in 2002.
He subsequently played for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, becoming the youngest player to score a hundred and a double century in the same match.
Rayudu captained the India team at the 2004 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The team finished as the semi-finalists.
After an uneventful few years, Rayudu joined the “rebel” Indian Cricket League (ICL) against BCCI’s guidelines and risked being permanently banned.
However, he received amnesty from BCCI and was recruited by Mumbai Indians before the 2010 IPL season.
Rayudu found success playing for MI and was instrumental in the team’s success. MI won three IPL titles in 2013, 15 and 17, with Rayudu as one of the highest run-scorers for the team.
Rayudu is known for his explosive batting and impeccable fielding skills. He often bowls off-spin as well and has served as an occasional wicketkeeper. Rayudu is considered one of the best middle-order batsmen in India’s history. He has also been part of multiple controversies and has had many run-ins with opposition players, on-field umpires and management admins.
Rayudu made his international debut in 2013 against Zimbabwe. He was part of the 2015 World Cup squad, but didn’t get a chance to play. He failed to make it into the 2019 World Cup squad and quickly announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, but later rescinded.
During his international career, Rayudu represented India in 55 ODIs, amassing 1694 runs at an average of over 47, including three centuries and ten half-centuries.
He was bought by Chennai Super Kings in 2018
With a remarkable record of 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, and 5 trophies shared between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings, Rayudu reflected on his incredible journey. He expressed hope for a sixth title as he shared his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this great tournament. Rayudu concluded his tweet by thanking everyone and confirming that this would indeed be his last game in the IPL.
Prior to the IPL final, Rayudu had featured in 203 IPL games, accumulating 4329 runs at a strike rate of 127, including 22 half-centuries and a single century. His standout performance came in the 2018 season for CSK, where he scored 602 runs. This impressive season showcased his exceptional batting abilities and his value to the team.
Rayudu had previously retired from international cricket following his omission from the Indian squad for the 2019 World Cup in England. Furthermore, he had also announced his retirement from domestic cricket a couple of years ago, only to reverse his decision later. However, this time around, the 38-year-old Hyderabadi stated in a tweet that there would be no U-turn, as he had decided to bid farewell to the IPL after scoring 139 runs in 15 matches.
The 37-year-old cricketer has been part of the IPL since 2010 and played in two of the most successful teams, the Mumbai Indians (2010-17) and Chennai Super Kings (2018-23).
However, Rayudu’s illustrious career, full of many highs and lows, has now come to an end. He will play his final game in IPL 2023 Final against Gujarat Titans. Rayudu previously retired in 2019, but later backtracked. But it appears, the 2023 final will be the last time fans witness Ambati Rayudu in action.
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