Last Update on: June 1st, 2023 at 07:17 pm
Ambati Rayudu played his last match in the IPL, which was incidentally the IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans. He had tweeted about this game being his last in the IPL. The veteran batter played an important cameo in a tense run-chase. He scored 19 off 8 deliveries as his knock helped CSK inch closer to victory.
Ambati Rayudu won his second IPL title with CSK and his fifth IPL title overall. Before joining the Yellow Army, he won three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians in 2013, 2015, and 2017. He did not bat too many times in the season but made an impact with the bat when it mattered most.
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After the IPL final, Rayudu spoke to NDTV in an exclusive interview about the closing moments of the IPL final which turned out to be a last-ball thriller.
“I was right behind him ( Dhoni) and we were changing seats when we were not getting boundaries, hoping to change the luck,” Rayudu said. “It was crazy, we all were shutting our eyes, we were just watching the game and really didn’t know what to do because once you are not in control, not on the ground, you are actually way more tensed and with the Ahmedabad dressing room being so far up, everybody had to sit in the dugout,” Rayudu said.
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He revealed how MS Dhoni walked up to him and asked him to join in the celebrations while lifting the title.
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MS Dhoni Told Me And Jaddu To Join Him: Ambati Rayudu
“Before the ceremony Dhoni came and told me and Jaddu that he wants us to join him in lifting the trophy and he thinks it’s the right avenue and moment to do it for both of us and it was really special on his part. I don’t think that has ever happened and that’s the person he is and the person the world knows so overall it is his gesture” Rayudu further said.
Speaking about his crucial cameo, Ambati Rayudu said that every batter’s knock was important in the final. Apart from Rayudu’s 19 off 8 balls, Ajinkya Rahane scored 27 off 13 and Ravindra Jadeja scored 15 off 6, hitting a six and a four off the final two balls. Shivam Dube held one end up with his 32 off 21 balls.
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Crucial Knocks By Everybody, Overall Great Team Effort: Ambati Rayudu
“Definitely, it was crucial but I think every knock there was crucial by everybody. Ajinkya before me was a very crucial knock, even Shivam playing till the end and those two sixes of Rashid from Shivam was crucial and definitely Jadeja in the end. The openers as well, they did a tremendous job throughout the season. Overall it was a great team effort,” Rayudu concluded saying.
Also Read: IPL Final: “Played A Little Bit Of John Terry Role” – Ben Stokes On CSK’s Fifth IPL Title Win
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