WATCH: Ambati Rayudu makes shocking comparison between MI and CSK fans, namedrops MS Dhoni

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year. After winning the Indian Premier League 2023 finals against the Gujarat Titans in Narendra Modi Stadium, Rayudu bid farewell to his illustrious IPL career.

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Rayudu was one of those players who represented both the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the tournament. The performance of Rayudu has been phenomenal for the top two teams of the league, and he has received equal love here and there. However, in a recent interview with Ranveer Allahabadia, Rayudu made a dramatic comparison between the fans of both franchises.

Listen to the full conversation here: 

Rayudu said "As a player, I would say fans of MI support MI first than X/Y players, they are always for Mumbai Indians".

As par Sm engagement Pov everyone says we don't have massive fanbase but whatever fan base we have we support each n every player of the team like #OneFamily pic.twitter.com/uHOYTfOa06

— S᭙ꪖ𝘴_яíѕ (@mrchampion036z) November 29, 2023

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Rayudu said that MI fans support teams rather than players, while CSK fans are MS Dhoni fans first. "What's your take on Mumbai fans as a player?" the anchor asked. "As a player, I'd say Mumbai fans rally behind the Mumbai Indians more than any single player like 'X' or 'Y'. They're always there for the team, says Rayudu.

"They're all about being Dhoni's fans," says Ambati Rayudu

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Further speaking about Chennai Super Kings fans, Rayudu said that they are a bit different from MI. He said that without MS Dhoni, CSK will fail to fill even half of the stadium. Rayudu says, "Chennai fans are a bit different. They prioritise being fans of Dhoni first, then the Chennai Super Kings. If Dhoni wasn't in the picture, I don't think the stadium atmosphere would be the same. They're all about being Dhoni's fans. Without him, half of the stands will be empty."

It's worth noting that in his absence, the Chennai Super Kings will need to find a more reliable and consistent batter. The team has also let go of players like Ben Stokes and others. Rayudu had been one of the biggest batters in the history of the IPL. He filled the huge void left by Suresh Raina in the squad.