3 CSK players who can replace Ambati Rayudu after IPL 2023
Ambati Rayudu calling time on his career on the back of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinching the IPL 2023 trophy marks the end of an era. The right-handed batter bowed out with six titles in the league.
Rayudu's eight-ball 19-run innings was instrumental in the Super Kings clinching the final against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Having taken the attack to an in-form Mohit Sharma, he made life easier for the Super Kings even though it went down to the wire thereafter.
As Rayudu walks into the sunset of his IPL career, CSK would be aware that replacing a batter of his versatility will be tough. Be it at the top or in the middle order, Rayudu excelled in just about any role handed out to him with minimal fuss.
There are some options in the current squad that they can turn to. Let's look at three such names who could be the heir to Ambati Rayudu post IPL 2023:
#1 Subhranshu Senapati
Odisha's Subhranshu Senapati made headlines in Qualifier 1 when CSK faced GT in Chennai. A visual of skipper MS Dhoni asking Senapati to take a deep breath and relax while he was on the park as a substitute fielder went viral, as it was followed by a sharp direct hit that sent Darshan Nalkande packing.
Senapati has been a regular substitute fielder for the Super Kings in the last two seasons even though he's yet to feature in a game in the tournament. After Rayudu's retirement in IPL 2023, however, the door might finally open for the right-handed middle-order batter.
Technically sound with the bat, Senapati's T20 numbers are modest; while he boasts a healthy average of 30.25, his strike-rate is just a shade under 120. He'd have to work on that second bit given the requirement of the role vacated by Rayudu's retirement.
With CSK bound to have put in work behind the scenes though, Senapati could well unleash a version of himself that takes the league by storm in the future.
#2 Shaik Rasheed
Technically very compact, the prodigious young Shaik Rasheed is one of the most highly rated young batters in the country at the moment. A number of experts, including former chief selector MSK Prasad, regard him as a Test batter for the future.
Rasheed got his first taste of the IPL during CSK's successful run this season. The 18-year old batter from Andhra was a regular substitute fielder; he was often named in the list of impact substitute options during IPL 2023.
Rasheed's brilliant boundary catch against Punjab Kings (PBKS) made headlines, convincing many that he should be looked after carefully as a future regular.
Rasheed is very much in the nascent stages of his career but he already possesses a compact technique, particularly against spin. His power game is only bound to get better with time; it shouldn't surprise anyone if he becomes a household name and steps into Rayudu's shoes seamlessly.
#3 Nishant Sindhu
All-rounder Nishant Sindhu could well be the heir to Ravindra Jadeja at CSK. But there's is no reason why the left-arm spinning all-rounder can't be used in place of Rayudu in the playing XI too, given his maturity and ability to play spin.
That he offers the option of a left-handed batter is an added factor to take into account. Of course, the current Super Kings lineup has enough of them in the form of Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali and Jadeja, and Ben Stokes is in their roster too. But if things work out, Sindhu could possibly be looked at for a role in the middle-order.
He has made a promising start to his first-class career for Haryana, with three fifties and two hundreds in 12 matches. His T20 numbers are bound to get better and CSK could use his prowess against spin effectively post their success in IPL 2023.
Who do you think CSK must look at to replace Ambati Rayudu in their lineup post IPL 2023? Have your say in the comments section below!
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