Stephen Fleming praises Ambati Rayudu for his contribution to CSK

Ambati Rayudu has delivered almost every time for his new Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in this season.

In the previous game against Sunrises Hyderabad (SRH), he scored an unbeaten ton to take his team home and registered a spot in playoffs.

Dhoni and the CSK think tank’s decision to open with Rayudu has worked wonders for the franchise, as the Indian batsman has taken to the role very admirably, leading from the front for the franchise.

Coach Stephen Fleming is highly impressed with the batsman and credited him for the success of the team this season.

The star performer of the previous game Rayudu scored an unbeaten 100 off 62 deliveries.

It was his first ton in the shortest format of the game. The batsman also crossed the 500 runs mark in this season and is positioning at No. 4 in Orange Cap race with 535 runs.

With the win against SRH, CSK reached 16 points and secured a spot in the playoffs after Mumbai Indians (MI) lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday.

SRH skipper Kane Williamson felt the best part of Rayudu’s batting was his consistency and the ease with which he was getting his runs

“He seems to be (scoring runs) every day. To do it again and again is quite tough,” said Williamson.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming credited Rayudu behind the success of the team this season and felt his contribution to the team’s good run in the season has been priceless.

“He is one of the key reasons we are sitting close to the top of the points table. He has not only dominated the run charts but the manner in which he has done so has been fantastic. You need one or two players at the top to fire if you want to win the IPL. Rayudu is doing that and some other guys like Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni are chipping in strongly,” Fleming said.

He went on to add how Rayudu’s run-making has been contagious.

“Much like Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson from Sunrisers who make their skillset so infectious, Rayudu’s batting too has been contagious in the manner in which he has gone about his business,” Fleming concluded.