Days after hanging up his IPL boots, former India batter Ambati Rayudu is set to play for the Texas Super Kings (TKS) in the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) – America’s first-ever professional franchise cricket league. Rayudu retired after turning up for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League 2023 final against Gujarat Titans. MS Dhoni & Co won the rain-curtailed affair by 6 wickets, clinching the title for a record-equalling fifth time.
The TKS announced the signing of Rayudu through a social media post o Thursday night. Apart from the Indian batter, the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Devon Conway, and Mitchell Santner were the other members of the CSK who all were signed by the Texas-based franchise.
ATR – Ambati “Texas” Rayudu @RayuduAmbati @MLCricket #yellovetexas #MajorleagueCricket #WhistleforTexas pic.twitter.com/vke15d81Zq— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Texas, get ready to groove to our Champion DJ. @DJBravo47 @MLCricket #yellovetexas #MajorleagueCricket #WhistleforTexas pic.twitter.com/q1c9XNNFX1— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
From New Zealand to Texas all the way –Devon Conway!@D_Conway88 @MLCricket #YelloveTexas #MajorLeagueCricket #WhistleForTexas pic.twitter.com/SXw6NqkxD8— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Our sweet Kiwi claws his way into Texas!Mitchell Santner@MLCricket #YelloveTexas #MajorLeagueCricket #WhistleForTexas pic.twitter.com/XY19KiXl7g— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Meanwhile, the TKS has also signed South Africa’s David Miller and Australian left-arm fast bowler Daniel Sams. The franchise also named its support staff, roping in the backbone of the CSK for the upcoming American T20 league.
To up our game from Down Under!Daniel Sams!#YelloveTexas #MajorLeagueCricket #WhistleForTexas pic.twitter.com/pvFlYLqrOK— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Just to add some thriller quotient from SA! @DavidMillerSA12 @MLCricket #yellovetexas #MajorleagueCricket #WhistleForTexas pic.twitter.com/SqLWuoZ88z— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming will join the TSK as the head coach with the likes of Eric Simmons and former South African all-rounder as his assistants. Gregory King has been named the strength and conditioning coach of the franchise while Lakshmi Narayanan joins the side as High-Performance Analyst and Tommy Simsek will be the team’s physiotherapist.
Russell Radhakrishnan, who has been managing the CSK for years, will now also take charge as the TKS team manager.
pic.twitter.com/fUD72jO07T— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) June 15, 2023
Rayudu’s IPL experience to come in handy for TKS
Ambati Rayudu joins TKS with vast experience in playing franchise cricket. A veteran of 204 IPL games, Rayudu made his debut in 2010 for the Mumbai Indians. He began his career with a fifty against Rajasthan Royals and from there, he went on to score 4348 runs in 14 seasons.
Back in 2018, when CSK returned from a 2-year ban, Rayudu was roped in by the Super Kings. Eventually, it turned out to be his best season in which he scored more than 600 runs and got his only IPL hundred. Apart from a century, Rayudu scored 22 fifties in tournament history. He smashed 173 sixes and 359 boundaries in his IPL career.
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