New Delhi:
Upset after being overlooked for World Cup twice, Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has announced retirement from international cricket. Rayudu was 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 has not cited any specific reason for the shocking decision to put an end to his international career. Rayudu was not selected in the team India's primary 15-member squad, despite skipper Virat Kohli's open announcement that he will be the first choice for number 4 spot.
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.
When Vijay Shankar was given priority over him, Rayudu had criticised the selectors' decision, taking a dig at statement of the head selector. India has been struggling with its middle order woes for the past few years. Rayudu, when given the chance performed with the bat and almost convinced the skipper that the is the man for number 4 spot. However, he was unfortunate not make the cut and replaced by Vijay Shankar, who had just played 4 matches before the World Cup.
Interestingly, Rayudu's decision to announce retirement came just a day after Iceland Cricket offered him permanent residency in their country so that he can play for them after Mayank Agarwal was called in as Vijay Shankar's replacement.
