Ambati Rayudu has played a pivotal part for CSK in this edition of the IPL, slotting into that opener’s role at first and then playing his trade in his favoured number 4 slot.
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Incidentally he scored a match winning 79 whilst batting at number 4 against SRH yesterday, much to the delight of the CSK fans.
MS Dhoni hailed Ambati Rayudu’s class and adaptability in the post match presentation, as Rayudu was first asked to play the opener’s role in the absence of Faf, and when Faf returned, was slotted back into his earlier role of a middle order batsman.
Ambati Rayudu is an IPL veteran who served Mumbai Indians in the first decade of the IPL before being picked up by the Chennai franchise in this year’s mega auctions.
Rayudu has an old connect with the CSK franchise though, as MS Dhoni and team once checked out of a hotel because Rayudu wasn’t being allowed in with his homecooked Hyderabadi biryani.
Rayudu, who is a Hyderabad boy had wanted to meet the CSK team in their hotel, when they were featuring in the 2014 Champions league, but the hotel did not allow outside food to be consumed in the hotel premises.
Hence, MS Dhoni and co. checked out of the hotel and the CSK members who were keen on having that biryani, had it in the parking lot of the hotel.
The gesture was a wonderful one from MS Dhoni, as he did not want to overlook the generosity of Rayudu.
CSK play their next game against RCB on the 25th of April.
