"Streets will never forget that 2018 season" - Twitter reacts to Ambati Rayudu's IPL retirement 

Chennai Super Kings batter Ambati Rayudu on Sunday, May 28, announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rayudu has played 203 IPL matches since his debut for Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 13, 2010. The Guntur-born cricketer will play his 204th IPL match in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ambati Rayudu took to his official Twitter handle to announce that the IPL 2023 final between Super Kings and Gujarat Titans will be his last appearance as a player in the cash-rich league.

"2 great teams MI and CSK, 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, 5 trophies. Hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey. I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the IPL. I truly have enjoyed playing this great tournament. Thank u all. No u turn"

Rayudu made a similar decision last year as CSK endured a dismal season in IPL 2022. He had announced his retirement from the IPL with immediate effect, however, he deleted the tweet later.

The 37-year-old was excluded from India's 2019 World Cup squad and called time on his cricket career from all formats. Rayudu reversed his decision taken in haste and made himself available to play for domestic cricket and IPL.

Check out fans' reactions to Ambati Rayudu's latest IPL retirement decision:-

Harsha Bhogle

@bhogleharsha

Love your sense of humour. And loved your cricket Rayudu gaaru. You have so much to be proud of. twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s…

ATR

@RayuduAmbati

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn

3947

307

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn 😂🙏

Love your sense of humour. And loved your cricket Rayudu gaaru. You have so much to be proud of. twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s…

;

@AIH183no

Streets will never forget that 2018 season!

Thank you, Rayudu gaaru! twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s…

ATR

@RayuduAmbati

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn

824

116

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn 😂🙏

Streets will never forget that 2018 season! 💛

Thank you, Rayudu gaaru! 💛💛 twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s… https://t.co/MmKTC20vv0

R A T N I S H

@LoyalSachinFan

Thank you Ambati Rayudu for your contribution to Mumbai Indians franchise. This cameo will never be forgotten.

2488

208

Thank you Ambati Rayudu for your contribution to Mumbai Indians franchise. This cameo will never be forgotten. https://t.co/cCooNuoqis

CricketMAN2

@ImTanujSingh

4329 runs in IPL.
5 times IPL Champions.
600+ runs in 2018 IPL season.
So many unforgettable memories.

Ambati Rayudu one of the finest in IPL history. Thank, you Legend for the all amazing memories in IPL.

225

17

4329 runs in IPL.
5 times IPL Champions.
600+ runs in 2018 IPL season.
So many unforgettable memories.

Ambati Rayudu one of the finest in IPL history. Thank, you Legend for the all amazing memories in IPL. https://t.co/WsTMEfs1G3

ANSHUMAN🚩

@AvengerReturns

He won many games for Mumbai Indians with great knocks.

Happy retirement Ambati Rayudu, an IPL legend.

490

75

He won many games for Mumbai Indians with great knocks.

Happy retirement Ambati Rayudu, an IPL legend. ❤️ https://t.co/1PY3sWgJ4k

𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐬𝐌𝐒𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧™

@Itzshreyas07

Forever greatful for 2018 . Thank you Ambati Rayudu. Happy Retirement

496

49

Forever greatful for 2018 . Thank you Ambati Rayudu. Happy Retirement 💛 https://t.co/FA2ok8JqIW

Junaid Khan

@JunaidKhanation

Who Knew This Finished Ambati Rayudu Would Score 602 Runs in IPL 2018 and Make International Comeback Happy Retirement Bahubali Rayudu You've Done More Than Enough For This Franchise in Just 6 Years .

134

29

Who Knew This Finished Ambati Rayudu Would Score 602 Runs in IPL 2018 and Make International Comeback 💛 Happy Retirement Bahubali Rayudu 💛 You've Done More Than Enough For This Franchise in Just 6 Years 💛 . https://t.co/jT4qZhSIda

Sarang Bhalerao

@bhaleraosarang

Ambati Rayudu will be playing his final IPL game. Hit the winning runs for @ChennaiIPL in 2018. Had a fantastic IPL career. In 2010 he made an instant impact for the Mumbai Indians. Won MI countless games. My favourite innings of Rayudu was in 2012 v RCB at Chinnaswamy & his… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

81

6

Ambati Rayudu will be playing his final IPL game. Hit the winning runs for @ChennaiIPL in 2018. Had a fantastic IPL career. In 2010 he made an instant impact for the Mumbai Indians. Won MI countless games. My favourite innings of Rayudu was in 2012 v RCB at Chinnaswamy & his… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Venkata Krishna B

@venkatatweets

My favourite Ambati Rayudu knock would be the one he played against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the away leg in 2018. Did something special that afternoon in Uppal stadium.

95

5

My favourite Ambati Rayudu knock would be the one he played against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the away leg in 2018. Did something special that afternoon in Uppal stadium.

Kushan Sarkar

@kushansarkar

ambati Rayudu has once again announced his retirement but this time seems like it will be for good. A gutsy player, who deserved to have played the 2019 WC
#CricketTwitter

83

1

ambati Rayudu has once again announced his retirement but this time seems like it will be for good. A gutsy player, who deserved to have played the 2019 WC
#CricketTwitter

Murphy ❁

@review_retained

Streets won't forget you Rayudu. Happy retirement Legend twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s…

ATR

@RayuduAmbati

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn

205

17

2 great teams mi nd csk,204 matches,14 seasons,11 playoffs,8 finals,5 trophies.hopefully 6th tonight. It’s been quite a journey.I have decided that tonight’s final is going to be my last game in the Ipl.i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament.Thank u all. No u turn 😂🙏

Streets won't forget you Rayudu🔥💛. Happy retirement Legend twitter.com/RayuduAmbati/s… https://t.co/QbZHcMbZgv

;

@AIH183no

Whatever happens tonight, it marks the end of an era for that 2018 CSK squad.

Watto - retired
Faf - not in CSK
Raina - retired
Rayudu - retiring
MSD - almost retired
Shardul - not in CSK

Feels like we just lifted our 3rd IPL trophy in 2018. Just how fast the night changes

231

42

Whatever happens tonight, it marks the end of an era for that 2018 CSK squad.

Watto - retired
Faf - not in CSK
Raina - retired
Rayudu - retiring
MSD - almost retired
Shardul - not in CSK

Feels like we just lifted our 3rd IPL trophy in 2018. Just how fast the night changes 💔

Bharath Seervi

@SeerviBharath

Players to play most IPL finals (before 2023 final):

10 - Dhoni
8 - Raina
7 - Ashwin, Bravo, Jadeja, Rayudu
6 - Pollard, Rohit
5 - Badrinath, Malinga, H Pandya, Morkel

#IPL2023Final #GTvCSK

108

12

Players to play most IPL finals (before 2023 final):

10 - Dhoni
8 - Raina
7 - Ashwin, Bravo, Jadeja, Rayudu
6 - Pollard, Rohit
5 - Badrinath, Malinga, H Pandya, Morkel

#IPL2023Final #GTvCSK

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A brief look at Ambati Rayudu's numbers in IPL

Ambati Rayudu has scored 4,329 runs in 186 IPL innings at an average of 28.29 and a strike rate of 127.29, including 22 fifties and one century.

The seasoned batter played 114 matches for Mumbai Indians from 2010 to 2017 and still remains to be their fourth-highest run-scorer of all time (2,635 runs).

Rayudu moved to CSK in 2018 and that turned out to be his most successful IPL season. He amassed 602 runs in 16 games at a strike rate of 149.75 in their title-winning campaign.

The middle-order batter will make his eighth IPL final appearance against GT on Sunday, having won five titles with both MI (2013, 2015 & 2017) and CSK (2018 & 2021).

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