Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu believes Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have the upper hand over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator match. Rayudu cited RCB’s recent form, including a clinical victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as reasons for his prediction. He praised RCB’s maturity and the clarity of roles within the team.
In a post-match banter on air, former CSK player Ambati Rayudu took a cheeky dig at RCB, saying they should be given one of CSK’s IPL trophies to parade in the streets after the thrilling win against Chennai. Former RCB fast bowler Varun Aaron came up with a savage response, saying Rayudu couldn’t digest the fact that RCB knocked out CSK and secured a berth in the playoffs.
Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) IPL 2024 campaign came to a disappointing end with a 27-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday. CSK needed to keep their loss margin below 18 runs to qualify for the playoffs, but they were restricted to 191/7 in a 219-run chase. RCB’s victory secured their place in the knockout stage for the ninth time in IPL history. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu expressed his belief that Dhoni, despite the loss, has not played his last IPL match. Rayudu advocated for the continuation of the Impact Player rule, suggesting it could extend Dhoni’s career in the league. However, the Impact Player rule has drawn criticism from other active Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Ambati Rayudu, a former star for the Chennai Super Kings, has revealed a longstanding pattern within the team’s fan base. In an open interview with Star Sports before CSK’s final group stage match of the 2024 season, Rayudu acknowledged, “CSK fans are MS Dhoni fans first, and CSK fans later.” Rayudu added that throughout his tenure with CSK, he frequently found himself overshadowed by Dhoni’s enormous popularity.
Amidst ongoing discussions about Virat Kohli’s T20 batting approach, former RCB captain and IPL legend Ambati Rayudu has defended Kohli’s strike rate. Rayudu emphasized that strike rate should be considered contextually based on the pitch and match conditions, rather than as a collective measure. Meanwhile, India legend Harbhajan Singh praised Kohli’s adaptability and constant efforts to improve his game. Kohli currently leads the Orange Cap race with 661 runs, demonstrating his strong performance this season.
Suryakumar Yadav’s dismal performance in Mumbai Indians’ loss to Kolkata Knight Riders has raised concerns about his technique ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu has highlighted a key weakness in Yadav’s batting, suggesting that bowlers should target him with slow and wide deliveries, especially on pitches with larger boundaries on one side.
Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu has denied making critical remarks attributed to him following Chennai Super Kings’ loss to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 match. Rayudu stated that he was not on commentary duties on the day of the match and was instead picking mangoes at his farm. He labeled the quoted remarks as “nonsense.”
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has announced his 15-man Indian squad for the T20 World Cup, with some surprising inclusions and omissions. Rayudu has opted for veteran Dinesh Karthik as his sole wicketkeeper, leaving out both Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. He has also dropped struggling Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. Rayudu’s squad includes in-form all-rounder Shivam Dube and finisher Rinku Singh, as well as the reunited spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has clarified his comments about the difference in culture between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that his words were taken out of context. Rayudu had previously said that a player’s ‘brain will explode’ if they play long for MI, adding that winning is non-negotiable in the Hardik Pandya-led franchise. However, in a recent post on Twitter, Rayudu said that he meant no disrespect to MI and that he loved his time at the franchise. He also praised MI’s processes and positive pressure environment, which he said has helped produce some of the best talent in Indian cricket. Rayudu played for MI for eight years, winning two IPL titles and one Champions League T20 title. He played for CSK for six years, winning one IPL title.
Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu, now an expert commentator, has selected his squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. His picks include a mix of experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, along with promising talents such as Riyan Parag and Mayank Yadav. Rayudu has prioritized form and experience in his selections, opting for players who have been performing well in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
