Virender Sehwag thinks getting snubbed twice must have been painful for Ambati Rayudu

After Yuvraj Singh, it’s Ambati Rayudu. The spree of calling it a day has been high during the ICC World Cup 2019. While Yuvraj quit international cricket in June a day after India thumped Australia, Rayudu followed suit the next day after India beat Bangladesh to make the World Cup semi-final. However, there is a difference in the circumstances under which the two called off their respective cricketing careers.

For Rayudu, the reason is unstated but understood by all. The 33-year-old Hyderabad batsman was snubbed more than once before and during India’s World Cup campaign in England and Wales and perhaps he found it too much to digest. Rayudu, who was thought of making it to the Indian squad as the No 4 batsman, could not make it eventually and had lost the race to Vijay Shankar. The chief selector, MSK Prasad, had said on the occasion that Vijay is a “three-dimensional cricketer”. Rayudu’s poor form in 2019 was certainly a reason that saw him missing the bus.

Rayudu was not called up despite two injuries

After getting snubbed, Rayudu, who is known for his temperamental lapses, came up with a cheeky tweet in which he said that he had ordered for 3d glasses to watch the World Cup. Though there was no reaction to his tweet from the BCCI, it seems now that the selectors were not happy with his take. Rayudu though was kept among the reserve players to chip in if there is an injury in the main squad.

He was ignored both after Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar were ruled out of the World Cup with injuries. While Rishabh Pant made it in place of Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal was called up as Vijay’s replacement. Rayudu perhaps could not accept it though anywhere in his statement did he mention about the reasons for taking such an abrupt call at only 33.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag took to Twitter to sympathise with Rayudu saying things must have been painful for Rayudu after getting snubbed for the big event and wished him all the best for his future endeavours.

Must definitely be very painful at being ignored for the WorldCup for #AmbatiRayudu but I wish him all the very best in life after retirement.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 3, 2019

It may be mentioned here that one of Sehwag’s contemporaries – VVS Laxman – had also been ignored for the World Cup in 2003 when he was in his prime. Laxman, also a former Hyderabad batsman, had contemplated early retirement but he came back with stronger performances with the bat in subsequent series.