We tried to get Ambati Rayudu's replacement in trading window - CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan ahead of IPL 2024

Ambati Rayudu retired from the IPL after final of the 2023 edition between CSK and GT.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, submitted their list of released and retained players to the IPL GC on the final date of November 26, 2023. In total, they released 8 players out of which Ben Stokes pulled out of IPL next year and Ambati Rayudu retired after CSK won IPL 2023.

CSK released the following players: Ben Stokes, Dwaine Pretorius, Bhagath Varma, Subhranshu Senapati, Ambati Rayudu (Retired), Akash Singh, Kyle Jamieson, and Sisanda Magala.

Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan acknowledged that the team attempted to find Ambati Rayudu’s place in the squad and tried to find alternatives during the trading window. Rayudu announced his retirement from the IPL after CSK won the title in 2023.

Rayudu began his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians in 2010 and won his maiden trophy in 2013. He won two additional titles in 2015 and 2017 before joining CSK in 2018, where he won the title in his first season. In 2021 and 2023, the 37-year-old won two more titles with CSK.

“We could not get”: CSK CEO on attempts to find a replacement for Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu arrived at CSK in 2018 and made an immediate impression. It was the franchise’s comeback season following a two-year ban, and the batsman was instrumental in the team’s surprising march to the cup.

In 2018, he scored a career-high 602 runs in 16 innings at an average of 43, recording his only IPL century. He scored nearly 2000 runs for CSK in six seasons, including one century and eight half-centuries.

“We have done only one trade in the last 15 years. That is for Robin Uthappa. We did look out for some players as a replacement for Ambati Rayudu, but we could not get it. A slot has to be filled. We will look to fill up that slot with some youngster if we are not able to get an experienced player,” said Vishwanathan in a video posted by CSK.

CSK have Rs 31.4 crore in the purse and nine slots available. They can also purchase up to three foreign players in the auction. The highly anticipated IPL 2024 auction is set to take place on December 19 in Dubai.

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