Ambati Rayudu is in the news again. This time, people are talking about an open conversation he had with journalist Shubankar Mishra on a podcast. He spoke about his time in the IPL with both the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
He talked about his all-time favourite team, guessed who might be in the finals in the future and talked about the claims that he favours CSK.
Ambati Rayudu’s on being part of CSK and MI
Rayudu has always been a player who works hard and makes a difference. During the podcast, he remembered winning championships with both the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.
Only a few IPL players have done that. Winning with MI was special, he said. But CSK was different. It felt like being at home. He said that both experiences helped him grow, but he felt more connected to the yellow jersey.
CSK is Home – A Loyalty That’s Real
When asked if he liked MI or CSK better, Rayudu immediately said, CSK will always be home. It’s not just that he likes MS Dhoni. It’s that he feels like he belongs to a team that accepted him, even near the end of his career.
Claims of Favouring CSK: Rayudu Responds
Because of his love for the team, people have been watching him closely. Since he started commenting on matches, some have said that he favours CSK, especially when he’s talking about the games live.
They say he talks about his old team too much. Rayudu answered strongly on social media: “I was a Thala fan. I am a Thala fan. I will always be a Thala fan. He believes that loyalty is something to be proud of, not something to hide.
He further emphasised this point by mentioning the 2023 IPL winning moment, in which Dhoni called him and Jadeja to lift the trophy. It is moments like these that Rayudu admires about the CSK captain, and reestablish his faith in the one and only Thala.
All-Time MI-CSK XI: Important Players
Rayudu also had some fun picking his all-time CSK-MI team. He picked himself as the impact player along with other great players like Dhoni, Rohit, Bumrah, Malinga, and Jadeja. It was more about respect than stats.
The team features a strong batting lineup with Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kieron Pollard, followed by MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dwayne Bravo in the middle order. The bowling attack comprises Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah, and Harbhajan Singh.
Looking Ahead: IPL 2026 Predictions
Talking about the coming editions of the IPL, he said that MI, RCB, CSK and KKR will be the top four teams in IPL 2026, with MI winning. This reminded everyone that even though he loves and favours CSK, he still has good judgment.
Ambati Rayudu is the most emotional player in the IPL. He played for different teams, but he played with his heart. He was at home in yellow. He will be remembered for his wins, his reactions to criticism, his team picks and his honest answers.
