Ambati Rayudu Reconsiders Retirement, Wants To Play In All Formats

Ambati Rayudu has had a rollercoaster 2019. After not being picked in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, he criticised the selection of Vijay Shankar by referring to him as a '3-D player'. In July, he announced his retirement from all forms of the game after being named in the reserves for the Indian cricket team. However, he was not inlcuded in the team as replacement despite two players sustaining injuries. First, Rishabh Pant was named as replacement for injured Shikhar Dhawan and then Mayank Agarwal was called in to replace Vijay Shankar, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to toe injury. The middle order batsman had not cited any specific reason for the shocking decision to put an end to his international career.

Now, a couple of months later, Rayudu has made a sudden U-turn on his retirement. In a letter to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), Rayudu had said, "I would like to come out of retirement and play cricket in all formats. I want to thank CSK , VVS Laxman and Noel David who have been very supportive during the tough time and are instrumental in making me realize that I have enough cricket left in me and the decision to retire was taken in an emotional state and in haste."

Rayudu has played 50 ODI innings and scored 1694 runs at an impressive average of 47.05. He has three centuries and 10 fifties to his name with a top score of 124* and strike rate of 79.04. He has also played five T20 Internationals but could not mirror his ODI performance. He scored just 42 runs at an average of 10.50. Rayudu had reacted on his omission with a sarcastic tweet that he would watch the World Cup wearing 3D glasses, in an obvious reference to chief selector MSK Prasad's defence of Shankar's selection.

Also Read | No action on Ambati Rayudu for sarcastic tweet: BCCI official

Prasad had said that the Tamil Nadu player brings three dimensions to the table - as a middle order batsman who could bowl at medium pace and is also a handy fielder - and that was the reason he got the nod ahead of Rayudu.

Also Read | IPL 2019: Ambati Rayudu’s No.4 spot in India team for World Cup takes a hit after low score

Following his retirement, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir had criticised the selectors for not handling Rayudu's situation well. "Five selectors combined would not have made the runs Rayudu has in his career. I feel extremely sad about this retirement. Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal got selected amidst the World Cup injuries, and anyone in Rayudu's place would have felt equally bad," said Gambhir.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Ambati Rayudu was not picked in the India squad for 2019 World Cup.
• India were knocked out in the semi-final of the tournament.
• Rayudu had criticised the selection of Vijay Shankar.