IPL 2018: Faf du Plessis All Praises for Ambati Rayudu's Flexibility

Chennai Super Kings marquee player, Faf du Plessis, was in all praises for his fellow teammate, Ambati Rayudu and his flexibility coupled with the ability to hit the ball from the outset.

For those unaware of the recent developments in IPL, Rayudu is the current holder of the Orange Cap. Rayudu’s blitzkrieg against RCB and Delhi Daredevils were standout knocks from the Hyderabad batsman.

Also, Du Plessis backed Rayudu to bat at number four slot for CSK due to his ability to hit the ball right from the word go. CSK currently are on top of the table with six wins out of the eight games played.

“Rayudu’s flexibility has impressed me. You can put him at any position from No.1 to No. 11. He will score runs. But the ability to come in at 4 and score boundaries from the outset is something which makes him unique,” Faf du Plessis told TOI.

The Mumbai Indians‘ reject has formed a decent partnership with Watson, opening for CSK. But, Rayudu also chipped in with vital contribution down the order for the men in yellow.

“It is a very difficult skill, and not everyone can do that. So if you ask me, I would say Rayudu coming at No. 4 slot is the best for the team,” added the Protean.

Throughout the tournament, the salient feature of the CSK batting lineup is the non-dependence on a single individual.

The likes of Dwayne Bravo, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni, and Rayudu have all stood up when the team required them the most.

Not sure whether opening slot will keep changing: Du Plessis

“If Watson and I can give the team a solid start, Suresh (Raina) at three and Rayudu at four can just come in and play their natural game. It can become dangerous for the opposition,” further added the 33-year old from Pretoria.

Another interesting pattern from MS Dhoni this season is constant changes in the XI and combinations. Also, never has CSK come up with the same eleven from the previous game.

However, Faf reckons he is not sure whether the opening combination of him and Watson would change in the coming games. But, he is sure about Rayudu making a strong case for himself at number four.

“I am not sure if the opening slot will keep changing or not. We haven’t had those discussions with the coach. But purely with the way Rayudu is batting in the middle, I would make sure that he is at No.4 for his skills,” concluded Faf du Plessis.