Ambati Rayudu
A six-time IPL title winner with Chennai Super Kings.
Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu is a former Indian international cricketer who played for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). A right-handed middle-order batsman who occasionally keeps wicket and bowls right-arm off breaks, he won the IPL trophy a record six times, sharing this feat only with Rohit Sharma. His career included stints with Mumbai Indians before joining CSK, where he was part of championship-winning campaigns. He played 61 limited overs matches for India between 2013 and 2019 and was a key member of the squad that won the 2018 Asia Cup.
- role
- Batsman
- affiliation
- Chennai Super Kings
- batting_style
- Right-handed
- championship_wins_with_csk
- 6 (shared record with Rohit Sharma)
- status
- Retired from all forms of Indian cricket
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Rayudu's journey to the yellow jersey followed a turbulent path marked by early promise and exile. After captaining India at the 2004 ICC Under-19 World Cup, he joined the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League (ICL) from 2007 to 2008, leading to a ban from domestic cricket. He returned in 2009 via a BCCI amnesty offer, revitalizing his career with strong performances for Baroda and Mumbai Indians. This resurgence led to his international debut against Zimbabwe in July 2013, where he scored an unbeaten 63 alongside Virat Kohli's century. His time with Chennai Super Kings saw him secure six IPL titles, a record he holds exclusively with Rohit Sharma. He played for CSK and Mumbai Indians during the league, contributing to their dominance before announcing his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on 29 May 2023.
In Their Own Story
The road back to international cricket was paved by resilience. After being ignored for national selection due to ICL disputes, Rayudu returned in 2009. He scored an unbeaten double hundred and three half-centuries for Baroda in the 2010–11 Ranji Trophy, averaging 56.60. This form earned him a spot in the India squad in 2012, though he missed the World T20 final 15-man list. His breakthrough came on 24 July 2013 against Zimbabwe; replacing an injured MS Dhoni in earlier tri-series, he finally featured and scored 63* to help India win. This performance made him the 12th Indian batsman to score a half-century on ODI debut. He continued to play for India until being dropped from the 2019 ICC World Cup squad, after which he declined an offer from Iceland before retiring from international cricket in July 2019.
Reader's Guide
Fans of Rayudu follow a career defined by record-breaking consistency and dramatic turns. He debuted in first-class cricket for Hyderabad in January 2002 at age 16, scoring 33. In the same Ranji season (2002–03), he became the youngest player to score a double century and a century in the same match against Andhra, tallying 210 and 159 not out. His domestic dominance saw him amass 698 runs at an average of 69.80 that season. In the IPL, he played for Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, winning six trophies. On 28 May 2023, he retired from the IPL, followed by his retirement from all Indian cricket the next day. He briefly joined the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket in June 2023, marking his first franchise league appearance outside India.
Did You Know?
- Rayudu is one of only two players, alongside Rohit Sharma, to win the IPL trophy six times.
- He became the youngest player in Ranji Trophy history to score a double century and a century in the same match (210 and 159* against Andhra).
- After being banned from domestic cricket for joining the ICL, he returned in 2009 via a BCCI amnesty offer.
- He made his international debut on 24 July 2013 against Zimbabwe, scoring an unbeaten 63 to help India win.
- In June 2023, he joined the Texas Super Kings for Major League Cricket, his first franchise league outside India.
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