CPL 2023: Ambati Rayudu joins St Kitts & Nevis Patriots as marquee player

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently made history as he became the second Indian player to compete in the men’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2023. Rayudu was signed by the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots as the side’s marquee player for the upcoming CPL 2023 season. With the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announcing a cool-off period for freshly retired players going on to play in foreign leagues, it is yet to be seen how Rayudu’s participation in the CPL 2023 will fare.

However, as the cool-off period has not been rubber-stamped yet, Rayudu could go on to play. With the CPL 2023 all set to begin on Thursday, August 17, Rayudu’s arrival in St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ squad could go a long way for the side. Notably, the side failed to make it to the knockout stages of the competition in 2022. With Dwayne Bravo’s departure, they will hope that Rayudu can attempt to fill the void left by the all-rounder.

With the announcement of his arrival, Ambati Rayudu came forward to share how excited he was to join a prestigious side like St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots ahead of the CPL 2023. Rayudu also stated that he was looking forward to making a significant contribution to the season. It is worth mentioning that there are a lot of youngsters are there in the squad who will be eager to play with him.

I'm really excited to be joining the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Rayudu

Further reflecting on his decision to become a part of the CPL 2023, Ambati Rayudu hopes to contribute towards the overall growth of the Patriots on a positive note.

I'm really excited to be joining the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. I look forward to having a positive contribution for the team in the upcoming CPL 2023," Ambati Rayudu was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Furthermore, the owner of the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Mahesh Ramani, came forward to state that Rayudu’s arrival in the side could help the youngsters learn a lot from the seasoned veteran. He opined that the 37-year-old’s experience winning titles could go a long way for the franchise.

"I am sure Ambati's seasoned expertise of having won multiple championships with various teams in an illustrious career in India will undoubtedly enrich the experience of our young players as we chase our second CPL title in 2023," Mahesh Ramani stated.