IPL 2023 final will be Rayudu’s last match (Photo tweeted by CSK)
Ambati Rayudu announced through a tweet that the IPL 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be his last match
Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. The veteran batsman announced through a tweet that the IPL 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium would be his last match.
However, Rayudu will now have to wait for some more time for his final IPL match as the season was called off on Monday after Sunday’s rain played spoilsport.
“2 great teams MI and CSK, 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, 5 trophies. Hopefully the 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey. I have decided that tonight’s final will be my last match in IPL. I have really enjoyed playing in this great tournament. Thank you all. No, U-turn.”
CSK thanked Rayudu for his contribution to the franchise.
“Super thanks for everything, ATR! Your quick blitzes and furious attacks will always blow our whistle! Best wishes for today’s outing in #yellove.”
The franchise further shared an emotional video montage on Twitter and termed Rayudu as a ‘middle order booster’.
Rayudu made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2010 and played for the team till the 2017 edition, winning three titles with them in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
He was then signed by CSK ahead of the IPL 2018 season, which proved to be Rayudu’s best season with the bat. He scored 602 runs in 16 innings at an average of 43, including his highest individual score of 100 not out, as the team won the trophy after returning from a 2-year ban.
Overall, Rayudu has scored 4329 runs in 203 matches at an average of 28.29 and a strike rate of 127.29, including one century and 22 fifties, of which 1,913 runs have come while playing for Chennai.
Rayudu had announced his premature retirement from IPL in 2022, before being dropped in an hour following the intervention of the CSK team management.
Ahead of Sunday’s final against Gujarat, Rayudu featured in 15 matches for Chennai in IPL 2023, scoring 139 runs at an average of 15.44 at a strike rate of 132.38.
Rayudu also played 55 ODIs and six T20Is for India from 2013-19.
