Three Indian Players CSK Can Target to Replace Ambati Rayudu for the IPL 2024

Chennai Super Kings registered a famous win on May 30 over Gujarat Titans to clinch their fifth IPL title overall. They outplayed GT despite chasing a huge target and went on to equal Mumbai Indians with the most IPL trophies. MS Dhoni has led CSK to five IPL championships. After the win, every player got emotional. Winning the trophy was one of the prime reasons, but it was also the retirement of Ambati Rayudu.

The 37-year-old announced his retirement ahead of the final game on Sunday. But rain washed out the scheduled play. Hence, Rayudu hung up his boots after the win on Monday. It has left a big hole in the CSK batting lineup to fill. The franchise will now have to find an ideal replacement for the veteran batter who can take the inning forward. Though CSK has some players who can bat in Rayudu’s batting order, the franchise still needs someone who can make an impact.

The 37-year-old didn’t have a great performance in the IPL 2023. He scored 158 runs in 12 innings. But his cameo of 8-ball 19 helped Chennai inch closer to the win in the final. CSK spent INR 6.75 crore on Rayudu to sign him at the 2022 auction. Here, we will talk about three possible replacements that Chennai can opt for in the IPL 2024.

Three players who can replace Ambati Rayudu in the IPL 2024 for CSK

1. Baba Indrajith

Chennai has brilliant options; they are looking for a local talent in Baba Indrajith. The wicketkeeper batter plays for Tamil Nadu at the domestic level and is a consistent performer for his state team. As a result, he also earned his maiden IPL call in 2022, when the Kolkata Knight Riders picked him up. Though he didn’t get many chances and played only three games, he scored 21 runs.

But he is a very reliable batter in the middle. The 28-year-old has played all of his cricket in Chennai and is aware of the pitch conditions. He is a well-known face on the domestic circuit, with an average of 51.85 in 66 first-class games and 4511 runs with 14 hundreds and 12 half-centuries.

2. Abhimanyu Easwaran

Bengal wicketkeeper batter Abhimanyu Easwaran is another consistent performer at the domestic level. That is why he even got a call-up for the Indian Test side. Though he didn’t make his debut, he is in line for a place in the Indian Test side. Easwaran has some good domestic numbers and has a good number of T20s under his belt.

He is a top-order batter like Rayudu. He can also be the backup wicketkeeper once MS Dhoni retires. Easwaran has played 27 T20s and scored 728 runs at an average of 38.31 and a strike rate of 121.53, with a best of 107. He has had 22 first-class and 7 List A centuries in his career.

3. Mohammed Azharuddeen

Another well-known name in the Indian domestic circuit is Kerala wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen. The 29-year-old caught the attention of everyone with a 37-ball century in the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy and registered the second fastest SMAT hundred. He scored an unbeaten 137. Azharuddeen can also play as a floater who can bat in any position as the situation demands.

In his T20 career, he has played 36 innings and scored 741 runs at a strike rate of 134.23, with one hundred and two half-centuries. CSK can invest in him, as he can also keep wickets if required and is an aggressive batter. Notably, Azharuddeen was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2021 but didn’t get a chance to play.