Ambati Rayudu takes a shocking U-turn after retirement from all forms of cricket

Ambati Rayudu didn’t find a place in India’s World Cup squad despite being a strong contender for the number four slot in the lineup. The fact that he wasn’t picked even after Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar got ruled out of the mega event didn’t seem to go down well with Rayudu. Quite immediately, the experienced batter decided to hang his boots from all forms of cricket.

He sent a letter to the Hyderabad Cricket Association to bid adieu to the game. Rayudu last played for India back in March in the ODI series against Australia. However, after a couple of months, it’s been learned that Rayudu is still open to donning the national jersey. Earlier he also talked about continuing playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Who will say no to India?”

“I haven’t thought much but I would prepare well to come back to white-ball cricket as soon as possible. I love the game, obviously. See ambition and targets are one thing but it still is the game I love. It is about playing cricket,” Rayudu was quoted as saying in India Today.

Taking a massive U-turn, Rayudu has now mentioned that he won’t say no to playing for the national team. “Of course, who will say no to India?” he stated. “So, I thought why not take it forward? Nothing like a target or anything. But my first priority would be to get fully fit. I have not played cricket for a while now and it would take me maybe a month and a half to get fully fit,” he added.

After he was left out of the World Cup, MSK Prasad, the chairman of the selection committee, said that Shankar’s three-dimensional abilities made them pick him over Rayudu. It didn’t please Rayudu, who later tweeted that he would be buying 3D glasses to watch the tournament.

Rayudu was also known to be one of the backups in case some injury developments came to the fore. Rayudu is currently plying his trade in the TNCA One-Day league for the V.A. Parthasarathy trophy and is representing Grand Slam in the tournament.

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