Chennai Super Kings, who finished ninth in last year's Indian Premier League (IPL), defeated IPL 2023 league stage table-toppers Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a rain-hit thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After CSK's glorious triumph, MS Dhoni, before himself laying hands on the trophy, invited his two teammates Amabati Rayudu and Ravidra Jadeja on stage for the honours. Not just this, Dhoni even helped the duo as they lifted the silverware to celebrate Chennai's historic fifth title win in the tournament. While Jadeja scored 10 runs off the final two balls to seal victory for CSK, Ambati Rayudu set the momentum for the win by hitting six, four and six off a Mohit Sharma over.
It was Rayudu's fiery 16-run cameo that brought down the equation to 38 needed off 18 balls to 22 required off 15 balls for CSK to win. After hitting two sixes and a four, Rayudu got out but the job was done. CSK vs GT IPL 2023 Final also marked Rayudu's last-ever match as a player in the tournament.
41-year-old Rayudu, in an exclusive interview with NDTV, revealed reason behind MS Dhoni's heartwarming trophy gesture in IPL 2023 Final.
Speaking to NDTV, Rayudu said, "Before the ceremony, he called me and Jaddu, saying he wants us to join him in lifting the trophy. He thinks it was the right moment to do it with both of us. It was really special on his part, I don't think that has ever happened. That's the person he is, and the person that the world knows. Overall, it is his gesture."
During the post-match presentation, MS Dhoni was asked about Rayudu to which he replied by saying," The special thing about Rayudu is he will always give his 100% when he is on his field. But with him in the team, I will never win the Fairplay Award. He always wants to contribute and he has been a fantastic cricketer. I've been playing with him for a long time, since the India A tours."
"He's a player who can play spin and pace equally well. It is something really special. I felt he would do something really special, I'm really happy for him. This game will be one he will remember, he's also like me - not someone who uses the phone often. What's important is that he has had a fantastic career and I hope he enjoys the next phase of his life," Dhoni said.