After the Indian Premier League 2023 ended in a victory for the Chennai Super Kings, fans' heartbeat increased while thinking about the announcement from MS Dhoni over his future. The 'Thala' decided that he would not bid goodbye to the game yet and would train hard to play for one more season. In a fun yet emotional chat with Harsha Bhogle after the victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL final, Dhoni also trolled veteran batter Ambati Rayudu, saying he will never win the "fairplay award' with him in the same team.
Before the finals of IPL season 2023, Rayudu had announced his retirement, with no possibility of a 'u-turn' this time. As CSK won the title, the veteran batter had tears in his eyes.
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Dhoni said that Rayudu is a similar character to him who doesn't use the phone much. But, with him in the team, the CSK captain can never win the 'Fairplay Award' either.
Captain Cool said, "The special thing about Rayudu is he will always give his 100% when he is on his field. But with him on 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 further said, "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, and I'm really happy for him. This game will be one he remembers; 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."