Ambati Rayudu, the former Indian cricketer, is really pushing for spinner Sai Kishore to get a shot on the national team, especially given how well he’s been performing in the IPL 2025 season. Right now, at 28, Sai Kishore proudly holds the title of the second-highest wicket-taker for the Gujarat Titans and ranks similarly among all spinners in this year’s IPL. He’s snagged eight wickets over four games while keeping the runs scored against him at a reasonable 7.06 per over. This performance adds to his already impressive career T20 economy rate of 5.98 across 74 matches, showcasing just how good he’s been.
Interestingly, Sai Kishore hasn’t played for India since he featured in a few T20Is during the Asian Games in October 2023, where he represented a team mostly made up of less seasoned players. Rayudu was speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show and expressed his admiration for Sai Kishore, saying, “He’s definitely someone who deserves a place on the Indian team. Honestly, he’s just as talented as any of the current players.”
During a recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which the Gujarat Titans won by seven wickets, Sai Kishore delivered a solid performance. He ended with figures of 2 for 24, taking the wickets of capable batsmen Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rayudu noted, “The way he celebrated after dismissing Klaasen was something! He usually keeps it cool, so that reaction caught my eye. You could tell he had a plan; he bowled over the stumps to pull the ball away from Klaasen’s strong shots, and then he mixed it up, bowling a faster ball just when he thought Klaasen would go for that big hit.”
Rayudu, who has played alongside Sai Kishore at Chennai Super Kings, couldn’t say enough good things about the spinner’s dedication and hard work. “This guy has always put in the effort. He’s the first one there and the last one to leave practice. He makes sure to bowl to every batsman, asking for their input on his lengths and how he can improve. He’s always looking to learn and get better.”
He went on to say that one of the most impressive things about Sai Kishore is his ability to control his bowling lengths and adapt to different batsmen. “Unlike many bowlers who stick to a single length or line, he keeps it varied. He’s not just stuck doing the same thing over and over. Because of that, he can adjust his deliveries depending on who he’s bowling to.”
To kick off this IPL season, Sai Kishore hit the ground running with a fantastic three-wicket haul against the Punjab Kings, followed by a performance against the Mumbai Indians where he took one wicket for 37 runs. He didn’t stop there—he also claimed two wickets each against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His consistent contributions are definitely drawing attention, and fans are eager to see if he’ll finally get picked for the national team.
