IPL 2018: Ambati Rayadu shows sportsmanship after being run out

In the last match of Chennai Super Kings, they went up against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Being sent to bat first by the Sunrisers, the visiting team lost a couple of early wickets. The centurion of the last match, Shane Watson got out scoring only 9. The other opener Faf du Plessis was stumped in the 8th over by keeper Wriddhiman Saha at 11.

But the partnership between Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu saved the day for CSK. Together their partnership added 112 runs, taking the total score of Chennai to 144 from a weak position of 32/2. Both the batsmen were playing the big shots, especially Rayadu, who went on to score his first fifty of this year’s IPL.

However, a misunderstanding in the 17th over cost him his wicket. In the 4th ball of Siddharth Kaul’s over, Rayadu struck a length delivery to long off and stole a quick single. But when Kaul missed the throw from Manish Pandey, he tried to take a chance at another run, which was never there.

The ball had only gone a short distance, and Raina from the striker’s end tried to call it a no. But it was already too late and Kaul had broken the stumps with a direct hit with Ambati Rayadu still a few big inches away from the crease. Raina looked visibly saddened and frustrated by the misunderstanding, especially because the partnership was going so well and they could have finished the game with the same flair.

The curious case of Ambati Rayudu and his sportsmanship

However, Rayadu showed real sportsmanship, as he walked up to Raina with a smile, and gave him a hug and a pat before leaving the ground. The crowd gave him a standing ovation for his brilliant knock of 79 off 37. Skipper MS Dhoni came in to finish the innings in his trademark style with a 25 off 12, hitting 3 boundaries and a six.

But the Twitterati was floored by the genuine gesture of Rayadu after he got out and still kept his cool. Here is how Twitter responded to the incident.