NEW DELHI, Aug 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu
reversed his decision to retire from all cricket Friday, less than two months
after he quit following his omission for the World Cup.
The 33-year-old, who was the Chennai Super Kings’ most prolific batsman in
their 2018 Indian Premier League triumph, was left out of India’s World Cup
squad in favour of the younger all-rounder Vijay Shankar.
Rayudu announced his retirement in July after he was overlooked as a
replacement when Shankar was injured during the tournament.
“He has written to us that after speaking with senior cricketers like
V.V.S. Laxman and others, he has withdrawn his retirement from all forms of
cricket,” Ratnakar Shetty, a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India, told AFP.
“We have forwarded his letter to selectors. It is up to them now but he
has made himself available for selection,” Shetty added.
Rayudu made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2013 and scored 1,694 runs
in 55 one-day internationals. One of his most memorable knocks was in New
Zealand this year, when he hit 90 to guide India to victory.
However, his form slumped in the ensuing home series against Australia,
and selectors picked Shankar for the World Cup citing his “three-dimensional”
qualities.
At the time, Rayudu took a dig at the selectors when he tweeted: “Just
ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the World Cup”.
The outspoken Rayudu was identified as one of India’s most talented
batsmen from a young age but he has occasionally clashed with fellow players
and officials, including when he joined a rebel cricket league in 2007.