Team India batsman Ambati Rayudu has said that he will continue to play for another three years and also hopes to be selected by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming mega-auction ahead of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rayudu has so far won two IPL titles with CSK, with whom he has been associated since the 2018 season. The veteran batsman has been consistently scoring runs in the last few seasons and asserted that he is working on fitness to keep up the same momentum.
“I would love to keep playing till I am in good form and fit. I will be ready for the next cycle, which is three years and I am working hard on my fitness,” Rayudu, who has played for Andhra in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, told PTI.
Rayudu continued:
“I recently played the Vijay Hazare Trophy which is five one-day games in six days which I got through well. I am in good shape and I hope to continue to play at least for the next three years.”
Ambati Rayudu was one of the five standbys for the 2019 ICC World Cup but he failed to get a chance in the 15-member squad and lost it to the all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who was considered to have “three-dimensional” qualities as well.
“2019 World Cup definitely was disappointing for me, for not making the squad. My comeback was dedicated to CSK and how they helped me get through that phase and time and I am thankful to them,” the batsman shared.
“Dhoni bhai has had the impact of getting the best out of me” – Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu feels that his stint with four-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings was special as the captain MS Dhoni knows how to bring the best out of him.
“My stint with CSK has been a very special one. We have won two IPLs till now and played one final. 2018 was a very special season, a comeback season for CSK and us winning the IPL that year made it very special. Dhoni bhai has had the impact of getting the best out of me, not only me but he has an impact on everyone and brings the best performance out of everyone in the team. That is why he is the best captain India has ever had,” he said.
Rayudu, who has been playing for CSK for four seasons now, said that he would love to play for them again and he hopes to be picked by them again in the auction. Notably, CSK has retained Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Moeen Ali apart from MS Dhoni before the auction.
“…I would definitely love to play for CSK. Formally, there has not been any communication with me so far, But I am hoping to get picked by them and have a successful league again. After the 2020 season, this win was very special for us in CSK. I have had my contribution too. I have had a great opportunity and showed my potential. I enjoyed the role I played this year with CSK. Being in the lower middle order, it is difficult to get such an opportunity, and I cherished every moment,” Ambati Rayudu stated.
I think this year will be a very interesting auction
However, CSK had a poor show in 2020 but this season they have bounced back and registered yet another title win as well. While he was asked if CSK’s template was one for the other teams to follow in the tournament, Rayudu said:
“I wouldn’t say template but every team looks for a mix of young and experienced players while picking. Especially when there is high pressure, experience really counts. We are seeing a lot of teams being very mature about the selection of their teams and I think this year will be a very interesting auction.”
Ambati Rayudu also shared that he was happy to play for the country in the white-ball format too.
“It is a great honour to represent India and I am happy that I represented India in the white ball format-ODI and T20s. I feel unfortunate about missing out on the Test cap. But I don’t regret it as I have given my best. I am happy for the opportunities I got to represent the team and that in itself is a great honour,” Ambati Rayudu concluded.
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