Ambati Rayudu interview: On IPL 2024, his stint at CSK and dabbling in politics

A lot can change in a year; Ambati Rayudu knows that.

Last May, he was jumping with joy at the Chennai Super Kings’ dugout in Ahmedabad, having contributed to one of IPL’s most memorable finals that the men in yellow won off the last ball. Late into the night, MS Dhoni would receive the trophy and hand it over to a beaming Rayudu in his last IPL match as a cricket player.

This May, Rayudu — now a commentator with Star Sports and talking about the game with as much passion as he once played it — was desolate, as he saw his former team get knocked out of TATA IPL 2024 on a rainy Saturday evening in Bangalore. In a video that is now going viral among cricket fans, Rayudu sits, his face buried in his hands, in disbelief.

Rayudu was showing his emotions, like he has always done. “Yes, I am an emotional being,” he tells me over a virtual conversation, a day before the CSK-RCB match, “I’ve always wanted things to be fair, and always fought for what I believe is right.”

Currently, the six-time IPL champion is busy with a hectic commentary stint. It is not something he would have fancied when he was a player, but Rayudu is enjoying it nevertheless. “I didn’t know if I would be good at it, because I hardly spoke during my playing days. But, with friends and family, I used to love discussing cricket. I pride myself as being a good student of the game and trying to understand its various intricacies. Broadcasting and commentating are new to me and I’m slowly trying to understand how things work, though many a time, I speak from the heart. I’m just happy I am still connected to the sport.”

Batting for CSK

IPL 2024 might have ended on a sour note for CSK, but Dhoni and Jadeja — the two men who were at the crease during the last moments of the recent Bangalore game — have been Chennai’s favourite IPL stars for many years now. Recalling the moments leading up to the famous CSK win of 2023, Rayudu says, “Remember Dhoni lifting Jadeja after he won us the game? We all know what CSK means to Dhoni, but it proved what it meant to Jadeja, who has been the team’s go-to man, be it batting, bowling or fielding.”

Rayudu was a star with Mumbai Indians in the earlier editions of IPL but has been vocal about his support for Chennai Super Kings, with which he had a successful stint. So, what is the amazing team environment that everyone raves about? “CSK is family. They let you be. At CSK, you are treated just the way you are treated at home; I’m not saying there is no pressure to win, but it’s the way you are treated at home, with parents or siblings. Every player feels like he belongs. The management and the support staff never speaks negatively and never puts you down. Even players who are not playing are constantly looked after; when that happens, you want to give your best. Say, if a player’s capacity is to score a 50 off 20 balls, due to this environment, you would like to do it in 18. This is why many players, who might not have played so well for other franchises, bloom here.” What also helps is the loyalty factor among players; someone like an MS Dhoni has been with the team since its inception. “Even after his retirement, I’m sure he will be associated with the team in a major capacity.”

Rayudu has been associated with Indian cricket for a long time — playing for India was the most memorable moment of his career — but he feels that the IPL, conceptualised in 2008, has brought the game closer to fans. “They understand T-20 cricket better, and they identify more with the players. The league is also a game-changer in terms of identifying talent. Previously, even if you were a talented player, you could get lost in the system if you are not identified by a certain set of selectors. But the IPL has been a great platform and throws the spotlight on players; a cricketer like Ashutosh Sharma (Punjab Kings) might not have been identified if he played only for the Railways. That’s the beauty of the IPL.”

The cricketer also dabbled in politics for a while, and this election season, he actively supported popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. He hopes to play an active role in public life in the future. “I believe sport can be a unifying factor in bringing people together,” says Rayudu, who also runs a foundation in Guntur that helps people from disadvantaged sections of society,“I believe equal opportunities should be available; I have suffered in the past due to a lot of factors. I hope that a player, even without any godfather, should be able to play the sport just based on his or her talent. I’m looking forward to playing an important role in developing Andhra Pradesh as a better place to live in.”

Watch TATA IPL playoffs and final this week on the Star Sports Network

Chennai Super Kings M.S. Dhoni gestures during an IPL 2024 match.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain M.S. Dhoni said that even though he does not play cricket throughout the year, there is no “discount for age” when he plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 42-year-old Dhoni played for CSK in the ongoing IPL 2024, under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, to whom he handed over the captaincy ahead of this season. His team crashed out of the playoffs race after a loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday. CSK finished at the fifth spot with seven wins, seven losses and 14 points and crashed out of the final four race due to an inferior net run rate.

Speaking in a video on Dubai Eye 103.8 YouTube channel on Monday, Dhoni said, “The toughest thing is… I am not playing cricket throughout the year. So I have to be fit. Once I come, you are competing against youngsters who are fit and playing international cricket. Professional sport is not easy, nobody gives you a discount for age. If you want to play, you have to be as fit as the other guy. Age does not really give that grace to you. So, eating habits, a bit of training and all those things are there. Social media, thankfully, I am not on social media, so there’s less distraction.”

Dhoni also said that during the peak of his cricketing career when he was active across all formats, he missed having family time since he was always occupied with cricket, endorsements etc. He also opened up on various things that de-stress him and help him maintain his focus, which also includes pets.

“Once I quit international cricket, I wanted to spend a bit more time with my family. But, at that same time, to be mentally active, to have that passion to stay focussed — for me, I love farming, for me it is the motorbikes, I have started getting into vintage cars. These things de-stress me. If I am stressed, I would maybe go to the garage, spend a couple of hours over there and I will just be fine, I would come back,” he said.

“I have always felt growing up with a pet, whether it is a cat or a dog… I prefer dogs though. They have unconditional love towards you. I have said this in a previous interview, even if I lose a game and come back, my dog greets me the same way,” Dhoni further said.

Due to knee surgery last year, CSK have been managing Dhoni’s workload throughout the ongoing season. He came out to bat when a handful of deliveries were left.

Yet he put up staggering figures in 14 matches. Dhoni amassed 161 runs at an average of 53.67 and a whopping strike rate of 220.55.After Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sent CSK out of the race for playoffs, bowling consultant Eric Simons heaped praise on the veteran power-hitter.

“But I think anybody wants to speculate about his future, that is crazy. MS knows what he is going to do. I know that this year I have seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he is playing extremely well and he will make the decision. But he is a fantastic guy to be around. He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK. He is an incredible cricketer and an incredible individual in terms of his understanding of cricket and life. I think in many ways that what he passes on to guys is the incredible self-belief, never say die and a simple understanding of the game of cricket he can put it in simple words and I think that is one of the best things about him,” Simons said in the post-match press conference.

As of now uncertainty still revolves around the future of Dhoni and only he can tell if he would feature in the next edition.

Security personnel tussle with a pitch invader who embraces Chennai Super Kings’ MS Dhoni during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

A 21-year-old man has been arrested for criminal trespass after he breached the tight security cordon to enter the field to meet cricketer MS Dhoni during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Narendra Modi stadium in Gujarat, police said on May 11.

The incident occurred during the match between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at the stadium in the Motera area of the city on Friday night, an official said.

Jaykumar Jani, a native of Rabarika village in Bhavnagar district, has been arrested under section 447 (criminal trespass) of the IPC, Assistant Commissioner of Police DV Rana said.

Jani informed the police that he was Dhoni’s fan and wanted to meet him, he said.

He jumped the barricades and ran towards the cricketer who was batting, the official said.

In a video of the incident that surfaced on social media, Jani is seen bowing at Dhoni’s feet near the pitch and hugging him before security personnel take him away.

“Jani and his brother Parth travelled from Bhavnagar to watch the match. During a DRS (decision review system) break, Jani first jumped the metal barricades near the black screen and ran towards the pitch. He was quickly apprehended and taken to Chandkheda police station,” Rana said.

He was formally arrested on Saturday after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him, the official said.

This is the second such incident at Narendra Modi stadium in six months.

In November 2023, Wayne Johnson, an Australian national of Chinese-Filipino origin, breached the security cordon to enter the field to hug Virat Kohli during the World Cup final between India and Australia.

Bhopal:

Union minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, saying that like Mahendra Singh Dhoni in cricket, the Congress leader was the “best finisher” of Indian politics.

Speaking at an election campaign rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, the senior BJP leader also alleged that Congress has an “unbreakable” relationship with corruption.

Congress once dominated Indian politics, but now it has a government only in two or three small states, he said.

“I sometimes wonder why this is happening, and I reach this conclusion. Who is the best finisher in cricket? (After people replied) Dhoni. If anyone asks me who is the best finisher in Indian politics, I will say it is Rahul Gandhi. This is the reason several leaders have left Congress,” the senior BJP leader said.

At an earlier rally, Mr Singh had taken a jibe at Mr Gandhi saying he had vowed not to stop until he “finished” the Grand Old Party.

Congress and corruption were inextricably linked, Mr Singh said, adding that most Congress governments faced corruption allegations, but no such allegations were made against any minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The Congress’ relationship with corruption can be described by the song “Tu Chal Mein Aai” (I will follow you) in the Salman Khan- starrer “Maine Pyar Kiya,” the minister said.

Mr Singh also batted for ‘one-nation, one-election, claiming that it will save time and resources.

Contrary to what Congress has been saying, simultaneous elections will strengthen Indian democracy, he said, adding that elections should be held twice in five years — once for local bodies, followed by those for assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

Some big financial firms are predicting that India will be in the top three economies of the world by the start of 2027, and the Modi government has already put the country in the top five from the 11th spot ten years ago, the defence minister said.

India will be a superpower by 2045, Mr Singh added.

When in power, Congress made several promises, and had they been fulfilled even partially, India would have become a powerful country long ago, he said.

The BJP, on the other hand, fulfilled all its promises in ten years, Mr Singh said.

“See all our manifestoes, and (one will find) we did what we said. We have been saying since 1984 that we will construct a Ram temple (in Ayodhya)….The opposition was asking for a date. Now consecration (of the idol) has taken place,” he said while also citing the abrogation of Article 370 and ban on triple talaq as examples of the party doing what it promised.

“We are standing with all the sisters and mothers irrespective of their religion. If the dignity and existence of sisters and mothers is at stake, the BJP will stand with them, no matter whether our government stays or not,” he said.

Politics should not be done for appeasement, and the BJP is doing politics for building the nation, Mr Singh said.

While citing terror activities during the UPA rule, the defence minister averred that India wants good relations with Pakistan.

“We want to maintain good relations with the neighbouring countries, because (former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that one can change one’s friends but not the neighbours. We follow this (dictum). But if anyone tries to promote terrorism in our country, we will give a befitting reply,” he said.

If provoked, India is no longer a weak country and can even take action by going across the border if necessary, Mr Singh said, adding that the country has already demonstrated this in the last ten years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai Super Kings’ Shivam Dube played a key role as CSK beat Gujarat Titans by 63 runs.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Shivam Dube has worked on his weakness against short-ball quite well and it has a lot to do with Mahendra Singh Dhoni personally working with the beefy Mumbai man, said Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad on Tuesday.

Dube played a key role as CSK beat Gujarat Titans by 63 runs in an IPL game here.

The left-handed batter smashed five sixes in his 23-ball 51 after his 34 not out in the opening victory against RCB and the most notable feature in his game is how he is managing the shortball.

Early in his career, short ball had become his shortcoming but this season a transformed Dube has managed it well even when he looks a bit uncomfortable.

“Just confidence. When he came here the management worked with him personally, Mahi bhai worked with him personally. He knows what role he is playing and which bowler to take on. A big plus for us,” Gaikwad praised his big-hitting game-changer.

Dube also spoke about the freedom that CSK leadership has given him and he has worked hard to remain prepared for the short balls, now that couple of bouncers are allowed per over.

“This franchise (CSK) is something different from all others. They are giving me the freedom. They want me to do better and I also want to win some matches,” Dube said after winning ‘Player of the Match’ award.

It is not just survival but Dube has also attacked short balls in these two games like never before, albeit with mixed results.

“I have worked in that way. It is helping me. I know they will bowl me some short balls and I am ready for that.” He also maintained that the team management has advised him to do the same thing match after match — that is to take on the bowlers.

“They want me to do the same thing I did today. They want me to score with a higher strike-rate and that is what I’m doing.” For his skipper, Tuesday’s win was a result of a near-flawless performance.

“Today’s game was near to perfect game, in the sense of batting-bowling-fielding, all three departments. Against a team like Gujarat, we had to produce this kind of performance,” Gaikwad said.

We were outplayed, accepts Gill

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill had no hesitation in admitting that his team was completely outplayed by Chennai Super Kings with the home team bowlers executing the plans to the ‘T’.

CSK won by 63 runs to go on top of the table with four points from two games and the big win also give their net run-rate a solid boost.

“They outplayed us when we were batting, their execution was spot on. We backed ourselves to get a decent score in the Powerplay and once we didn’t, we were always playing catch-up. It was unfortunate for us,” Gill said at post-match presentation ceremony.

Gill said that he was expecting a 200-run total considering the hard bouncy nature of the track.

“In T20, you can always talk about 10-15 runs here or there, end of the day it’s about how much they got. On this wicket, we were expecting to chase 190-200. I think, it’s a great learning for the bowlers.” For Gill, it is better to face an opposition like CSK early on rather than face them later.

“I think it’s better to have this kind of game early on in the tournament rather than in the middle or late. We always expected to chase 190-200, it was a really good wicket. Felt like we let ourselves down while batting.”

Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. File
| Photo Credit: AFP

Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni landed here on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season.

The defending champions posted a picture of Dhoni, who led them to their fifth title last season, exiting a vehicle on social media, captioning it “#THA7A Dharisanam!” Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni’s final one as a player.

Last year, the 42-year-old mostly came out to bat towards the fag end of CSK innings. CSK began their pre-season training camp on Saturday with the first batch of CSK players landing here a day before.

The players who have arrived so far include Deepak Chahar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Shaik Rasheed and Nishant Sindhu (all-rounder).

CSK will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore here on March 22.

Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh):

Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Monday heaped praise on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his leadership quality and sought to compare him with legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni who was known for his match-winning abilities.

Addressing a public meeting before flagging off the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Neemuch, Mr Singh said like Mr Dhoni, known as one of the best finishers in the game who led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup victory, Chouhan will also pull off a win in the year-end assembly polls.

The Jan Ashirwad Yatras (March for People’s Blessing) aim to reach out to the masses highlighting the achievements of the BJP government ahead of the Madhya Pradesh polls. The first yatra was launched by BJP president JP Nadda in Chitrakoot on Sunday.

Mr Singh said his party colleague Mr Chouhan, one of the longest-serving CMs who is in his fourth term, has mastered the art of finishing a match with a win like Dhoni, an explosive batter and one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket.

“Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the Dhoni of politics. This is not an exaggeration. No matter what the start is, he finishes off nicely with a win. He has worked for people and that is why he enjoys their trust,” said the senior BJP leader.

Mr Chouhan started his fourth innings as Chief Minister mid-way after the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in March 2020.

Mr Singh said the MP chief minister was sensitive towards people’s problems and backed him to once again emerge victorious in the upcoming polls.

He blasted former Chief Minister Kamal Nath and said he stopped welfare schemes of the Centre, especially housing for the poor while heading the Congress government between December 2018 and March 2020.

Mr Singh said the BJP and Chouhan have worked hard to pull Madhya Pradesh out of the category of laggard states (BIMARU) and put it on the path of rapid development.

The defence minister said he had known Mr Chouhan for more than 30 years and admires his political acumen and pro-poor work.

Mr Singh said India is aiming to emerge as the strongest economy in the world by 2047 and sought voters’ blessings for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Chouhan for achieving this feat. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)