IPL 2021: Ambati Rayudu Has Been Player Of Franchise Since He Joined CSK, Asserts Gautam Gambhir
Published - 05 Oct 2021, 05:43 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:57 AM
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir feels Ambati Rayudu has had a massive impact with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since joining them in 2018.
After nearly playing for a decade for Mumbai Indians, Rayudu moved to their rivals CSK after he was bought for 2.20 crore in IPL 2018 auction.
Ambati Rayudu has a great impact with the bat in CSK
Rayudu has scored 1495 runs for the Chennai outfit in 58 matches and his best season came in 2018 when he scored 602 runs at the strike rate of 149.75. Gambhir feels that Rayudu has been the player of the franchise in the past four years.
“I believe Ambati Rayudu has been the player of the franchise since he joined CSK. He scored runs when he opened or played at No.3 or No.4, and he has delivered in whichever position he has played. It is very difficult when your batting order is being shuffled, but despite that, the way he bats,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“He had an impact when he used to open with Watson, today he is playing at No.4, and he has a similar impact. We might talk about Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina and the others, but he has probably been the player of the franchise in the last three-four years,” he added.
Ambati Rayudu’s efforts against Delhi Capitals went in vain
Rayudu was once again effective in the middle-order against Delhi Capitals as he scored a valiant fifty on a slow track where batters were struggling. His 43-ball 55 helped CSK to put a moderate score of 136/5 in the first innings.
CSK lost the match by three wickets as they could not hold West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer from finishing in the final overs of the game. With that loss, CSK was dethroned by the Capitals to the second position on the points table.
MS Dhoni and his men will play Punjab Kings in their final league match on October 7 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Also Read: IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Wasn’t The Only One Who Struggled In The Match, Affirms Stephen Fleming
