Would want to have Ambati Rayudu as an opener in the side: MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings are enjoying a great tournament return as they sit at the top of the table after 5 games in the 11th edition of the IPL. The MS Dhoni-led side beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday to go at the top of the table with Kings XI Punjab below them because of net run rate.

The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium was slow, the ball was not coming on to the bat easily which was evident as CSK started very slowly. It was Ambati Rayudu who took to himself to score quickly with Suresh Raina holding the innings at the other end. Rayudu hit 79 runs off just 39 balls to help CSK post a total 182 runs. Raina’s 54 came in 43 deliveries which made him highest run-getter of the IPL.

Would love to have him as an opener

Rayudu had opened for CSK in the earlier matches but Faf Du Plessis’s inclusion saw him bat at number 4. CSK skipper MS Dhoni praised Ambati Rayudu’s performance during the post-match presentation. According to Dhoni, Rayudu is one of the batsmen who can adjust to any position in the playing XI. According to Dhoni, Rayudu while hitting the big shots does not lose his shape. “Rayudu has been fantastic. One of the questions was where do we play him?

And I have seen him bat up the order at No. 3. Whenever he plays the big shots, he maintains shape, which is very important. He can bat at all numbers, but I’d prefer to see him an opening, where he looks very dangerous,” said the CSK skipper who chipped in with an unbeaten 12-ball 25 runs.

Sunrisers missed the services of their regular opener Shikhar Dhawan during the match. Deepak Chahar dented the run chase at the very start when he sent back Ricky Bhui and Manish Pandey for a duck while Deepak Hooda could only make 1 run from the 7 balls his faced. Skipper Kane Williamson’s valiant effort failed to take the CSK over the line.

Rashid Khan’s 4-ball 17 runs came little too late for his home side as Bravo kept his nerves to seal the game for CSK.

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