(Image source from: Sportskeeda)
Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday.
The announcement comes after he was twice overlooked for selection in the Indian squad at the Cricket World Cup, including in the one which is underway in England.
In a mail to BCCI, Rayudu wrote: “I would like to thank the captains I have played under, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and especially Virat Kohli who always had shown great belief in me throughout my career with the Indian team."
“I would like to thank the captains I have played under, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and especially Virat Kohli who always had shown great belief in me throughout my career with the Indian team" - @RayuduAmbati in his email to BCCI
— CricketNext (@cricketnext) July 3, 2019
More: https://t.co/R3P6AHmrM7
Rayudu, 34, was considered as the batsman to play at the No. 4 spot in the ODI team. But he was dropped from the World Cup squad with the selectors opting to pick all-rounder Vijay Shankar alternatively. The selectors pointed out Vijay's ability to contribute with both bat and ball while confirming his selection.
Even when Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar were forced out of the World Cup squad due to injuries, the selectors decided to bring in Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal despite naming Rayudu among the stand-by players for the World Cup.
Rayudu began his career playing first-class cricket with the Hyderabad cricket team. He also took part in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and only returned to the BCCI fold in 2009. He made his ODI debut in 2013 in a game against Zimbabwe at the age of 28.
Rayudu scored 1694 runs in 50 ODI innings with a top score of 124 not out. He scored three centuries and 10 fifties in his career.
By Sowmya Sangam
