Ambati Rayudu names CSK star who can become future CSK and India captain

Ambati Rayudu retired from the IPL after winning it with CSK in the last season in 2023.

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Ambati Rayudu picked his choice of player who can potentially captain both India and CSK in the coming times. Rayudu called time on his IPL career this year after he won the IPL 2023 with Chennai Super Kings.

Speaking on a podcast, Ambati Rayudu said that he feels that 26-year-old opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad is currently underused by Indian cricket and has the potential to be a captain for not only the Chennai Super Kings but also team India in the future.

Gaikwad was named the India vice-captain for the first three matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia. He smashed a brilliant century in the third match, scoring 123 in 57 balls. He had made 58 off 43 deliveries in the second T20I. Before that Gaikwad had captained India to gold medal in Asian Games 2022 in China.

“Hopefully, after Dhoni bhai, he will start leading CSK”- Ambati Rayudu

Speaking to YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia on his chat show, Ambati Rayudu, praised Gaikwad for his calmness and amazing batting skills. He said that the Maharashtra batter will be a huge asset for the Indian team going forward.

“I think for me who is being underused by Indian cricket right now is Ruturaj Gaikwad. I think he has tremendous talent. He is one guy who should be used more. Should be given opportunities across formats.

His greatness is just his talent, his time on the ball, his shots, his fitness, and his temperament. He has everything to become a world-class cricketer. Rutu is very, very calm, and he knows what he is doing. He has that sense of silent aggression in him. Not very similar (to Dhoni) and has that calmness about him, and he reads the game well. I think he will be a great asset for India,” Rayudu said.

“Hopefully, after Dhoni bhai, he will start leading CSK, and then on, you never know, he might go on to lead India. He has already led India in the Asian Games,” Rayudu added.

Gaikwad made his IPL debut for CSK in 2020, and in 2021, he won the Orange Cap by finishing as the leading run-getter in the tournament. He then made his T20I debut for India on July 28, 2021, against Sri Lanka, and his ODI debut was against South Africa in Lucknow on October 6, 2022.

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