IPL 2024: Ravichandran Ashwin names Ambati Rayudu’s replacement that CSK may look to sign
Ravichandran Ashwin (Source-Twitter)
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been named the apt replacement for the recently retired Ambati Rayudu. Chennai Super Kings will be looking to replace the 38-year-old during the upcoming IPL 2024 Auctions in Dubai.
Ambati Rayudu played 6 six seasons for the team in yellow and won three titles. The last of which came in 2023 as CSK beat Gujarat Titans in the final. The former India batter had also played 8 seasons for the Mumbai Indians winning three IPL titles and twice winning the Champions League.
Ravichandran Ashwin names apt replacement for Ambati Rayudu
Veteran Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin was live on his YouTube channel recently. The 37-year-old named Karun Nair as the best player to bat at number 4 for Chennai Super Kings. Ambati Rayudu retired after winning the IPL 2023 with the men in yellow.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said “I have a feeling they will invest it in Karun Nair. They are searching for a replacement for Ambati Rayudu. Shah Rukh Khan is not a replacement for number four. I have no idea who they are going to play in that position this season”
The 37-year-old then continued to say “They might try a left-hand option but if you look at CSK’s track record, they have never gone for an unknown commodity. They have never played anybody who just did well in their first season of the Indian domestic T20 tournament”
Ravichandran Ashwin then name-dropped Karun Nair as the likely player who could be bought by Chennai Super Kings. The 32-year-old was released last Sunday by his former franchise and is looking for a new team.
Ashwin was heard saying “So, Karun Nair, folks, brace yourself to see him in yellow. I am not committing to anything, just doing a little Ravi Shastri impression. He is someone who can play spin well, who could sweep and reverse sweep. MS Dhoni loves it when there is a batter who can play between the top order and middle-order in the number 4 slot”
There are speculations that Manish Pandey is also in the fray to make a move to CSK during the IPL 2024 auctions. The Indian spinner though had his take on it “In Chennai, I feel Karun Nair is perfect for that. I haven’t seen Manish Pandey play spin too much in Chennai but Karun Nair, remember has a triple century in a test match played in Chennai”
Karun Nair had scored an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai during the 2016 test series. The Indian bowler concluded his assessment by saying “He has had a tough time in the last few years, it is not easy. You score a triple century in test cricket and all of a sudden you find yourself nowhere. He did well in KPL as well so it looks good for him”
