Ambati Rayudu Explained The Difference Between CSK And MI Fans: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have cultivated a fierce rivalry in the Indian Premier League, sharing the distinction of holding the record for the most titles in the tournament’s history. Both franchises have secured five IPL titles each and are led by two of India’s cricketing superstars, with MS Dhoni captaining CSK and Rohit Sharma leading MI.
Ambati Rayudu Explained The Difference Between CSK And MI Fans
Ambati Rayudu, who had the opportunity to represent both MI and CSK during his IPL career, highlighted a noticeable distinction in the fanbases of the two franchises.
Rayudu suggests that Mumbai Indians fans lean towards more team-oriented support rather than being solely driven by any individual player. However, he feels the same is not the case with Chennai Super Kings as the fans prioritize backing Dhoni initially and then extend their support to the entire team.
“As a player I would say, they support Mumbai Indians more than one player or X player or Y player. They are always for Mumbai Indians. Chennai Super Kings is slightly different. Chennai are: Dhoni’s fans first and then CSK. If Mahi bhai is not there, don’t think the stadium would be half full. They are all Mahi bhai fans,” Rayudu said on The Ranveer Show 360.
Dhoni, affectionately known as Thala by his multitude of CSK fans, remains a significant attraction even four years after his last appearance in an international match for India.
My Time With CSK Was More Special – Rayudu
During the same show, Rayudu said that his IPL tenure with MI was great, but he found his time at CSK more special.
For the unversed, Rayudu was selected by MI in the 2010 IPL season, marking the commencement of a remarkable journey. Throughout his tenure, MI secured noteworthy titles, clinching three IPL trophies in 2013, 2015, and 2017. His noteworthy contributions were especially evident in the 2015 final, where well-calculated innings laid the foundation for MI to seize the coveted trophy.
Speaking about his time with Mumbai Indians and how it shaped his career, he said: “I would remember myself as being very flexible in a team environment. I would bat open as well as in the middle order and lower middle order. That is one area where I take a lot of pride in, contributing to the team, and I cherish that aspect a lot in my career,”
He added: “Of course, I played eight years for them. I started my IPL career with Mumbai. It was a great journey, and we won three IPLs and two Champions League trophies. We had great times,”
Yet, Rayudu’s pivotal moment in the IPL unfolded when he joined CSK in 2018, marking a defining chapter in his IPL career. His run tally experienced a significant surge, contributing to his overall total of 3300 IPL runs at an average.
Speaking about the same, he explained how his time at CSK was more special than his time with MI. He said: “Going to CSK was even more special, but it was very weird to sit in another dressing room, put on yellow pads instead of blue, and face Mumbai, who was practicing just two wickets away from me. It was like a whole flashback going on in my head, recalling what we used to do every day. From then on, yeah, I got used to being in CSK,”
