Ambati Rayudu hangs his boots

After being ignored twice and denied a place in the ongoing World Cup, Indian middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu seems to have decided that he’s had enough. The 33-year-old retired from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, bang in the middle of the World Cup. The news came as a shock to fans across the country, who had hoped to see the Guntur boy don the national jersey in the ongoing World Cup.

“I have come to a decision to step away from the sport and retire from all forms and levels of the game. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the BCCI and all the state associations that I have represented, which include Hyderabad, Baroda, Andhra and Vidharbha. It has been an honour and privilege to have represented our country,” Rayudu wrote in his mail to the BCCI, a senior BCCI official said. The Hyderabad cricketer was in the official standby list for the World Cup, but failed to find a place in the squad. When Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of because of an injury, the selectors decided to pick Rishab Pant. Again, when all-rounder Vijay Shankar was injured, Mayank Aggarwal was called up as a replacement. However, Rayudu had made it loud and clear that he was given a raw deal when he was left out of the Indian squad for the World Cup. mocking head selector MSK Prasad’s statement, “Vijay Shankar gives three dimensions” to the team, Rayudu had tweeted, “Just ordered a new set of 3-D glasses to watch the World Cup.” It was later announced that Rayudu was the stand-by along with Rishab Pant. “I would like to thank the captains I have played under —MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and especially Virat Kohli, who always showed great belief in me throughout my career with the Indian team. It has been a wonderful journey of playing the sport and learning from all the ups and downs (that came with it) for the last 25 years at various different levels,” wrote Rayudu, as he signed off from the game he loved.

According to me, the selectors have been a complete disappointment this World Cup. Rayudu’s retirement decision is because of them and their decision-making skills are to be blamed for this. 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
— Gautam Gambhir, former Indian opener