Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the five-time champions after defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the final match of the Indian Premier League 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 30. CSK star middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu took retirement with teary-eyed after the match.
Meanwhile, recently, Rayudu revealed how legendary CSK skipper MS Dhoni asked him and Ravindra Jadeja to get their hands on the trophy first. Rayudu said that he was overwhelmed by this sweet and heartwarming gesture from the captain. Jadeja was the hero of the match as he hit the boundary in the last ball of the match and took his team to victory.
“Before the ceremony, he called me and Jaddu, saying he wants us to join him in lifting the trophy. He thinks it was the right moment to do it with both of us. It was really special on his part, I don't think that has ever happened. That's the person he is, and the person that the world knows. Overall, it is his gesture,” Rayudu was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Ambati Rayudu has been an absolute legend: Stephen Fleming
CSK head coach and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming talked about Rayudu and also highlighted the importance of him in the team. He recalled how smashed Mohit Sharma in the final match for 3 back-to-back boundaries which brought the team back into the game and set the stage for Jadeja in the final over.
"Ambati Rayudu has been an absolute legend. I rate him so highly as a batter and those three balls against Mohit Sharma today proved against one of the most in-form bowlers to hit him for 6, 4, and 6 was sheer class. Rayudu will leave a hole, there is no doubt about it, but the game keeps moving. Doesn’t it? We expected that for him to go out like that was pretty emotional within the group and for him as well," Fleming had said.
Here's how fans reacted:
Bas kr bhaiii IPL khatam hogya kitna chatega CSK ka 😭🤡
— THE UNIVERSAL (@the_universe74) June 2, 2023
Jab tak WTC final start nahi hoga tab tak retweet khaega apna John dhoni bhaiya ke naam pe
— Dr. Shardul Thakur 🇮🇳🗨 (@asliwiseman) June 2, 2023
Message is clear thala is God
— 🇮🇳 Harshit🐐 (@AnonymityVirus) June 2, 2023
But but but but he is a credit STEALER 😂
— ᴍɪᴛʜɪ'န ✨ (@Messiemind_) June 2, 2023
My goat MAHI 🐐
A man with golden heart and no other one can compare with him ❤️
— Mehul Singh🍂 (@mehul_yarrr) June 2, 2023
Dhoni is not a human, he is the god 🙏
— Anushka Sharma (@Thalastan7) June 2, 2023
But Wo Dharavi Wlqe bolte hai he is credit stealer
— Anjali Pandey (@anju_cr7) June 2, 2023
— atvp (@AthulvPai49) June 2, 2023