LISTICLE
Follow UsOne of the Chennai Super Kings' heroes from the 2018 season, Ambati Rayudu, decided to call time on his Indian Premier League career. Ahead of the final (28th May), he announced his retirement.
He started his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians in the 2010 season. In his first match, Rayudu smashed a 33-ball 55 against Rajasthan Royals. The batter scored 2416 runs at an average of 27.15 and a strike rate of 126.2 for the Mumbai franchise.
The talented batter then moved to Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and played a significant part in their winning campaign (2018). The right-handed batter scored 602 runs in his debut season for Chennai, his best season in the IPL. In 79 innings, Rayudu scored 1913 runs at an average of 29.9 and a strike rate of 128.7 for the Men in Yellow.
In the IPL, only two other players, David Warner for Sunrisers Hyderabad (4014) and Delhi Capitals (2383), and Shikhar Dhawan for the same two franchises (SRH - 2518) & (DC - 2066) have 1500+ runs for multiple franchises.
Rayudu has been a part of a few sensational knocks in his career. Here is a list of a few:
81* off 54 against RCB in 2012
If anyone asks which is Rayudu's best innings, this has to be at the top of the list. Mumbai were chasing a target of 172 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru.
The start of their chase was a dreaded one. Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for a first-ball duck, and none of their top three could cross the five-run mark. Mumbai were reeling at 3/19 when Rayudu stepped in. They sank further at the ninth over mark (5/51).
From there on, it took a remarkable innings and a partnership to resurrect the chase and win in the last over. Rayudu was the hero of that match with a memorable 81, and rightfully so, the Player of the Match. He forged an unbeaten partnership of 122 (65) with Kieron Pollard.
100* off 62 balls & 79 off 37 against SRH in 2018
The 2018 season of IPL was the most productive edition of Rayudu's IPL career. He was relentless, especially against Hyderabad. In four innings, he scored one half-century, one century, and a duck against the opposition.
In the first encounter, Rayudu smashed a 37-ball 79, a strike rate of 213.5. His blistering knock helped Chennai register a total of 182. Chennai won this match by just four runs.
In the reverse fixture, Chennai were chasing a similar target (180). In this innings, Rayudu opened alongside Shane Watson. The two openers forged a 134-run partnership before Watson's dismissal. However, Rayudu did not stop. He registered his solitary century in the IPL and helped Chennai win both fixtures. In both games, he was the Player of the Match.
71 off 48 against MI in 2020
It was the first match of the 2020 edition of the IPL, an El Clasico. Batting first, Mumbai had posted an average total of 162.
With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult & James Pattinson, Mumbai were a formidable attack. Chennai lost both openers in the first two overs. Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu shouldered the responsibility and hoisted a 115-run stand for the third wicket. Rayudu was the major contributor, scoring 71. He took apart Bumrah by scoring 20 runs in 10 balls.
55* off 29 against DCH in 2010
Mumbai were batting first and in slight trouble when Rayudu came into bat. At 62/3 at the end of the ninth over, Rayudu joined hands with Saurabh Tiwary.
Tiwary was playing second fiddle at one end, anchoring the innings, and Rayudu was going hard against the bowlers. His 29-ball 55 helped Mumbai post a total of 178. Rayudu was the Player of the Match for his efforts in this innings.
63 off 37 against KKR in 2017
This was one of those innings in which Rayudu stood on top of all Mumbai batters. Rayudu scored 63 runs in this match at a strike rate of 170.3. The numbers suggest it was a good innings. But, in that innings, Mumbai posted a total of 173 when none of their other batters had a strike rate above 130.
Considering the above aspect, the weightage of this innings against Kolkata is more.
