Ambati Rayudu was seen to be going through a lot of pain at the end of the innings against Punjab Kings on Monday
Ambati Rayudu in action against Punjab. (Courtesy: PTI)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Chennai Super Kings lost in the final over against Punjab
- Ambati Rayudu played a valiant knock of 78 off 39 balls
- Rayudu was seen panting for better part of the final 10-15 balls
Chennai Super Kings Ambati Rayudu played another Indian Premier League blinder on Monday night against Punjab Kings, but fell just short of taking his team over the line. The Andhra Pradesh batsman scored a rapid 78 off 39 balls after CSK were left tottering in the early overs of the innings due to another top order failure.
Rayudu was seen panting heavily at the end of the innings, with the commentators criticising him for his stamina, predicting that this lack of fitness could cause CSK the game.
But as it turns out, it was not a fitness issue at all.
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CSK coach Stephen Fleming in the post-match press conference revealed that Ambati Rayudu had badly bruised his hand while fielding in the first innings and needed treatment.
“The first check was around the break and his hand was bruising. It was just a case of icing that and getting that down and I think a little padding around the glove. It was the same hand that was broken sometime back, so it’s still pretty tender and a knock like that can obviously cause some damage,” revealed Fleming.
However, he said that Rayudu and CSK were fortunate that it settled down and that he batted well.
After the loss, CSK were left at the ninth position in the points table, having won just two matches out of their eight games. They take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on 1 May.