Former Australia wrist-spinner Brad Hogg has heaped praise on the veteran Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu, saying the in-form batsman can do a brilliant job for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at no. 4 in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the UAE.
Rayudu started off his IPL 2020 campaign in a brilliant style, producing a Man of the Match performance for the CSK in the tournament opener against the Mumbai Indians last week in Abu Dhabi and former Australian cricketer believes that he could make a comeback to the Indian national side.
Hogg said he won’t be surprised if the latter “is playing for India sooner rather than later”.
Arriving at the crease when the CSK were struggling at 6-2 while chasing 163 against MI, Rayudu played stunning innings of 71 runs off just 48 balls, as well as, shared a stand of 115-runs with Faf Du Plessis to power the three-time IPL champions to win the IPL 13 opener by five wickets in Abu Dhabi.
Hogg said on his YouTube channel: “CSK has got plenty of depth. Ambati Rayudu stood up and I think he can do a job again at No.4. I won't be surprised if he is playing for India sooner rather than later. I think he is going to have another big series. He looks on top, watch him make another 50 and he will make another 50 and become the man of the match.”
With his scintillating showing with the bat, the 34-year-old showed what India missed in the 2019 World Cup in England. Rayudu was tipped as India’s first choice for the No. 4 in the World Cup squad last year, but later he was pipped to the post by Vijay Shankar and India failed to qualify for the final.
Noteworthy, Rayudu, who scored 602 runs from 16 games to help CSK to clinch the IPL title for the third time in 2018, was ruled out from the CSK’s 2nd IPL 2020 encounter against RR due to an injury.
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
