Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu responded with his witty humour that legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni need not be 100 percent fit to leave a mark in the IPL 2024 season. Rayudu recalled his time with CSK in 2018, 2021, and 2023 editions of the league as well.
Speaking about his maiden season with CSK, Rayudu said on Star Sports Press Room, “I think with CSK, since the time I joined in 2018, I don’t think half the team was fit (laughs). Most of us were carrying (niggles). With Mahi Bhai (Dhoni), I don’t think he has been fully fit for the past 3-4 years. But whenever the time has come, the crucial matches come, he has always stood up.”
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However, Ambati Rayudu had a stellar IPL 2018 with the bat, where he scored 602 runs in 16 matches at a brilliant average of 43 and a strike rate of 149.75. That season helped him return with a bang to the Indian ODI team. Ambati Rayudu opined that CSK knew their fielding was
probably not their best suit back then. He also revealed how MS Dhoni used to tell Shane Watson not to risk himself in the field.
“Every game we used to think that if the par score was 180, we would give 200 because of our fielding. Mahi bhai always used to tell Shane Watson, ‘You’re not moving. If the ball comes straight to you, you catch it. You don’t dive. We want you to bat’.”
Ambati Rayudu also opened up on MI’s performance in the IPL 2024.
“I feel Mumbai has always been a setup where the team has always come first. The individuals were part of a team and the owners, players and even Sachin Paaji used to feel that we are all part of one Mumbai Indians team. But right now I feel there are too many individual powerhouses in the side and not just one sort of direction to take,” Ambati Rayudu concluded. “This season right from the start we have seen everyone talk about everything else rather than Mumbai Indians as a team. If there is someone who is not willing to come on board, no matter how tough it is, you have to get rid of them and get players who want to play for the team. I am sure they would want to build a side where everyone wants to play for Mumbai Indians than their own self.”
