Ambati Rayudu (Photo Source: twitter)
CSK batter Ambati Rayudu has announced his retirement from IPL after the final of IPL 2023 between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans on Sunday, May 28, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 37-year-old has been a part of 14 IPL seasons after making his debut in 2010 playing for Mumbai Indians.
During his 13-year-long career, Rayudu represented two of the most successful IPL franchises, namely Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. After playing for MI from 2010-2017, he got picked by CSK in 2018. Rayudu has the joint second-most IPL titles to his name, having won the coveted trophy five times in his career (three for MI and two for CSK).
The Andhra Pradesh-born batter took to Twitter and shared the news of his retirement with his fans and thanked them for their support.
“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 😂🙏,” wrote Rayudu on Twitter.
In the ongoing season, Rayudu has not had a memorable season scoring just 139 runs in 11 innings at an average of 15.44 and a strike rate of 132.38. He burst onto the scene in the 2010 season and took the tournament by storm scoring 356 runs in 14 matches with two fifties.
Rayudu had his best season in 2018 playing for CSK
Rayudu made a great shift to CSK, scoring 602 runs in 16 innings in the 2018 season at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 149.75 with one hundred and three fifties. In 203 matches in his IPL career, he has scored 4329 runs at an average of 28.29 with one hundred and 22 fifties to his name.
Playing his last IPL final, the 37-year-old will look to contribute with the bat for CSK and help them win their fifth IPL title and his sixth overall.