Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicated their victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final against the Gujarat Titans to veteran batsman Ambati Rayudu, who played his last match in the IPL. Rayudu bid farewell to the tournament on Sunday, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. He took to Twitter to announce his decision.

"Two great teams, MI and CSK, 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, 5 trophies. Hopefully, the 6th is tonight. It has been quite a journey. I have decided that tonight's final is going to be my last game in the IPL. I truly enjoyed playing in this great tournament. Thank you all. No U-turn," tweeted Rayudu.

In his final game, the experienced batsman turned the game around with one exceptional shot. In the 13th over, he unleashed his raw power, hitting the ball into the stands while on the back foot. From that point, CSK regained control of the match and secured their fifth IPL title.

"This victory is more special because of how last year went for us. To come back in style, winning games at Chepauk and away games, and the collective contributions throughout the season. I would like to dedicate this win to Rayudu. Even today, we were discussing the importance of a good start. With wickets in hand, we believed we could easily chase down 12-13 runs per over in the end," expressed Gaikwad after the match.

Throughout his IPL career, Rayudu played in 204 matches, accumulating 4,348 runs at an average of 28.23 and a strike rate of 127.54. He scored one century and 22 half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 100*. He stands as the 12th-highest run-scorer in IPL history.

Rayudu represented the Mumbai Indians from 2010 to 2017 in 114 matches, amassing 2,416 runs at an average of 27.15 and a strike rate of 126.16. He recorded 14 half-centuries, with a best score of 81* for the franchise.