While many are waiting patiently to know the future of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni and whether he will continue his career in cricket after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final against Gujarat Titans (GT), one of his teammates has announced that the ultimate game of the season will be his last of IPL career.
Ambati Rayudu, five-time IPL champion, shared a tweet to confirm his decision, while also ensuring that there will be no 'U-turn' from this decision.
“2 great teams mi and csk, 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, 5 trophies. Hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey. I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl. I truly have enjoyed playing this great tournament. Thank u all. No u-turn,” Rayudu wrote on his official Twitter account.
The veteran batter has been a regular part of the IPL since the 2010 season, first starting off with Mumbai Indians (MI), before joining CSK ahead of the 2018 IPL season. In 187 IPL matches over the seasons, Rayudu has scored 4187 runs in the cash-rich league, including an unbeaten 100 for Chennai during the 2018 season, his highest score in the IPL to date.
Rayudu has won the IPL a massive five times, making him one of the most successful players in the IPL to date. These include three with MI in 2013, 2015, and 2017 and then with CSK in the 2018 and 2021 IPL seasons.
His most successful season with his debut season with CSK, when Rayudu scored 602 runs (including the century mentioned above). He averaged 43 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 and scored three half-centuries. This includes a brilliant cameo of 18 runs from 19 balls alongside Shane Watson to deliver CSK's third IPL trophy and his fourth.
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