Ambati Rayudu has been all over social media since the start of the ongoing IPL 2025, thanks to his immense love for MS Dhoni. Even though the former India skipper has been facing criticism and severe trolling because of his performance this season, Ambati Rayudu has not shied away from defending him.
On Tuesday (April 8), the former India cricketer’s name started doing the rounds on social media once again when Chennai Super Kings locked horns against Punjab Kings. Dhoni came out to bat at number five and played an impactful cameo as well, but could not take his team home.
CSK is on a losing streak
In the end, CSK lost the game by 18 runs while chasing 220. Dhoni scored 27 runs off just 12 balls but did not get good support from the other end. Soon after the game ended, Ambati Rayudu became the talk of the town once again, mainly for one of his exchanges with fellow commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu.
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It all began when Rayudu accused Sidhu of changing teams, indirectly taking a dig at his loyalty. Not the one to back down, Navjot Singh Sidhu hit back with a vicious comment, telling Rayudu: “If a chameleon is someone’s revered deity, then it is yours.”
While Sidhu did not mention any name in his comment, the fans were quick to interpret that the former India batsman called MS Dhoni a chameleon and Rayudu’s revered deity.
Ambati Rayudu’s fiery exchange with Sanjay Bangar:
Rayudu to Sidhu – Paji Jaise girgit rang badalta hai vaise aap team badalte ho.
Sidhu to Rayudu – Is sansar me girgit ki tarah koi hai to tum ho or tumhare aradhyadev(Dhoni) hai 😭 pic.twitter.com/Y0aH5FqfuF
— A D I T Y A (@One1Last2Dance3) April 8, 2025
Earlier this season, Ambati Rayudu was also involved in a fiery exchange with another commentator, Sanjay Bangar. The reason behind the exchange was Rayudu’s defense of CSK and Dhoni. It all began when the panel on ESPNcricinfo was discussing the Mumbai Indians’ decision to use former captain Rohit Sharma as an Impact Substitute.
Bangar criticised the move, saying that Rohit’s absence on the field was hurting the team. The former India all-rounder said that Rohit would have made a difference with his leadership on the field. However, Rayudu quickly countered Bangar’s comments and said that Hardik Pandya should be left alone as a captain.
Differing opinions between Rayudu on Hardik Pandya
“I don’t think Hardik needs input. A captain needs to be left alone. “Dhoni was not at his ears all the time. Same for Rohit. Then why should Hardik have 10 people at his ears? Rayudu said.
Bangar was not at all impressed with Rayudu’s comments and hit back by saying, “For you, it was different because you never led an IPL team. But here is a guy who has led the team to multiple IPL titles.”
