India batter Ambati Rayudu has expressed a desire to keep playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for three more years. He was part of the IPL 2018 and 2021 edition winning Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad and played a major role in the top order.
He recently played for Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament, scoring 143 runs in 5 matches with one half-century to his name.
“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. 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,” Rayudu told PTI.
IPL 2021: WATCH - CSK family wishes Ambati Rayudu on his 36th birthday
Rayudu had called time on his cricketing career in 2019 after he was overlooked for the Indian team for the World Cup that year, despite being one of the five standby players, as the selectors went for Vijay Shankar who was considered to have a “three-dimensional” game.
Rayudu said: “[The] 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.”
Ambati Rayudu was picked by the CSK team in the IPL 2018 auction and he won the title that year with the team. Before this, he was part of the Mumbai Indians squad, winning the IPL title in 2013, 2015, and 2017 before being released.
Rayudu was not retained by the CSK team ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and said that his stint with the MS Dhoni-led side was a special one.
“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 in an interaction on e-mail.
He further said that he would love to continue playing for the franchise and hopes CSK picks him back in the IPL 2022 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,” he said.
Rayudu further said that IPL 2021 title win was much special as the team had failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in tournament history in IPL 2020 and to come back from that low and win the title was something amazing for the yellow brigade.
“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,” he said.
Asked if CSK’s template was one for the others to follow, 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.”
Rayudu said that he was honored to have played for India when asked if he regretted not playing Test cricket.
“It is a great honor to represent India and I am happy that I represented India in the white-ball format - ODIs 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 honor,” he said.
(PTI inputs)
