Watch- Ambati Rayudu Confirms His Bias Towards CSK After Ian Bishop Calls Him Out

Ambati Rayudu's partiality for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL was ridiculed by former West Indies player Ian Bishop.

According to Bishop, the bond between former CSK players Ambati Rayudu, Matthew Hayden, and Shane Watson is unbreakable because of their unwavering dedication to the team.

Ambati Rayudu has played for Mumbai and CSK

Ambati Rayudu won three championships while playing for the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. During the 2018 mega-auction, he joined CSK. With 90 games played, Rayudu scored 1,932 runs.

After winning the 2023 Indian Premier League championship with CSK, the 38-year-old declared his retirement from professional cricket.

The Chennai Super Kings defeated their longstanding rivals, the Mumbai Indians, handily to start their IPL 2025 campaign.

Under Ruturaj Gaikwad's leadership, the reorganized team showed early promise. That enthusiasm didn't last long, though, as the Chennai squad lost their next two games in a row.

CSK was suffering in the bottom half of the points table after losing to the Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team doesn't seem to have enough rhythm or consistency.

Ian Bishop calls Ambati Rayudu out for being a CSK fanboy

Ian Bishop criticized Rayudu for his partiality for the Chennai Super Kings in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. According to Bishop, former CSK players would only admit the team's shortcomings once CSK staff members had left the room.

Without hesitation, Rayudu acknowledged the bias, stating, "Unapologetically, we are." Bishop said he had been meaning to ask that question for a while. Then Rayudu joked that even though they are loyal, they can maintain objectivity when necessary.

Rayudu, Shane Watson, and Matthew Hayden are among the former CSK players who are currently on the IPL 2025 commentary panel. During CSK games, they also express their perspectives. In comparable parts, other former CSK actors like Harbhajan Singh, S. Badrinath, and Suresh Raina also contribute their voices.

"The CSK guys, right? Ambati Rayudu, Matthew Hayden, and Shane Watson, they are very, very pro-CSK. CSK has to leave the room before they confess that CSK is not it. Given the success, I understand why there is a strong bond; it's like that umbilical cord can never be cut," Bishop said on ESPNCricinfo.

"I mean, unapologetically, we are," Rayudu replied.

"Ah, right. I wanted to ask that for the longest while—so now I’ve got my answer," Bishop stated.

"No, but we have a very good neutral face," Rayudu added.

Here is the banter video:

CSK banter with Ambati Rayudu never gets old 😆 pic.twitter.com/9h2Jjp5Jc6

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 7, 2025

With their next match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 8, CSK will be desperate to get back on track.

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