Rayudu yesterday had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with an immediate effect. This Andhra Pradesh batsman was a standby player if in case any of the batsmen gets injured in the ongoing World Cup in England. But the team management decided to go with Rishabh Pant after Shikhar Dhawan got ruled out with a fractured thumb and then replaced all-rounder Vijay Shankar with opening batsman Mayank Agarwal. Rayudu’s decision to retire came after he was ignored for the 2019 World Cup twice. After all this, the Indian captain Virat Kohli had something to say to the 33-year-old batsman.
Reason for his retirement
Ambati Rayudu till now has played 55 ODIs scoring 1694 runs at an average of 47.05. The player, who appeared in the Test team, was in the spotlight before the World Cup. He was earlier declared as the best option for No.4 batsman by Indian captain Kohli.
After this, the 33-year old was in standby list for the World Cup, but surprisingly he was ignored despite the injury-forced ouster of all-rounder Vijay Shankar. The team management then later looked for Mayank Agrawal, who was brought in instead of Ambati Rayudu. Back to back ignorance from the BCCI left Rayudu quite disappointed and in turn the decision to retire.
On being snubbed twice over for the ongoing World Cup, Rayudu on Wednesday retired from all forms of cricket without specifying his reasons in specific.
Ambati Rayudu’s open letter to BCCI
In his letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rayudu said, “I would like to bring to your kind notice that I have come to decide 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.”
“I also would like to thank the two IPL franchises MI and CSK for their support. It has been an honor and privilege to have represented our country. 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,” he said.
“It has been a wonderful journey of playing the sport and learning from every up and down it brought upon for the last 25 years at various different levels. Finally, I would like to thank my family and all the wellwishers who have been with me throughout this wonderful journey,” he concludes. Source
Kohli’s wish
Many cricketers around the globe offered their best wishes to the right-hander. One was from the Indian Captain himself who wished Rayudu for his upcoming journeys. He wrote, “Wish you the best going forward Ambati. You’re a top man.”
Wish you the best going forward Ambati. You're a top man ???@RayuduAmbati
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 3, 2019
Interestingly, Kohli’s message was criticized on social media and many believe that Kohli played a role in Rayudu’s omission and subsequent retirement.
— Chhote (@thuug_lyf) July 3, 2019
Then y did u select Mayank Agarwal over him??
— JeeAar (@Bespoke07982992) July 3, 2019
Rayudu is like ?? :- pic.twitter.com/cXUmu48PD9
— osama (@osama______006) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Felixxx_x_/status/1146413292581244929
Real Virat : pic.twitter.com/dHGCrG2f1Q
— Shorbert Eikes ➐ (@rohitadhikari92) July 3, 2019
— अमोल (टीपूडा) (@AmolDraws) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Punofgod/status/1146412388582711297
https://twitter.com/Prabhat28432285/status/1146415104944009216
especially virat kohli who always had shown great belief in me throughout my career with the Indian team ! -AMBATI RAYDU❤️ Happy Retirement AMBATI❤️ pic.twitter.com/2KSLjSsNp3
— FANNNNN!! (@SRKCastic) July 3, 2019
Behind the scenes pic.twitter.com/Rfjd5bC0w3
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) July 3, 2019
— प्रोफसर Raja babu ?? (@GaurangBhardwa1) July 3, 2019
Inner him pic.twitter.com/RP1n6AP79z
— Anant (@_Aawarahun) July 3, 2019
— Rajni patil ??? (@indian_patil) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Deepakkumar3102/status/1146413478149648385
Mr. Virat @imVkohli @RayuduAmbati is a great player than Pant, Jhadav and Mayank for the 4th down. Why didn't you consider him for the replacement?? People are very sure #BCCI plays big politics in players selection.. You please dont encourage hereafter and dont kill players.
— Kumaran Karuppiah (@2kkumaran) July 3, 2019
— Arun Arora (@Arun2981) July 3, 2019
Shame on BCCI
Bloody politics— Dr Janardhan Naik (@janrdhannaik21) July 3, 2019
Rayudu reply to kohli : pic.twitter.com/XRvGrq8nUd
— Niraj Singh (@SinghNiraz) July 3, 2019
