Ambati Rayudu Considering To Break White-Ball Retirement
Aug 25, 2019 at 11:10 AM
After missing out the World Cup squad in the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, Ambati Rayudu retired from the cricket. However, he is now thinking to return to white-ball cricket.
In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, Ambati Rayudu didn’t get a chance in the 15-member squad. However, he was in the stand-by squad for that tournament. However, later, when the all-rounder Vijay Shankar was ruled out from that tournament, the non-stand-by squad player Mayank Agarwal earned the World Cup call-up, but Rayudu missed out.
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Soon after that, Rayudu announced his retirement from the cricket. However, recently, he has revealed his changed mindset as he is thinking to return to the white-ball cricket soon.
Recently, Rayudu told Sportstar, “I haven’t thought much but I would prepare well to come back to white-ball cricket as soon as possible. I love the game, obviously. See ambition and targets are one thing but it still is the game I love. It is about playing cricket. So, I thought why not take it forward? Nothing like a target or anything. But my first priority would be to get fully fit. I have not played cricket for a while now and it would take me maybe a month and a half to get fully fit.”
In November 2018, Rayudu retired from the first-class cricket to focus more on the limited-overs cricket. After missing out the World Cup squad, Rayudu announced his retirement from all cricket formats.
Ambati Rayudu is busy on his fitness
Though he has given a hint to make a return to the white-ball cricket, Rayudu has also clarified that he hasn’t made any decision yet. The 33-year-old first wants to get fit quickly for the limited-overs cricket.
He added, “I haven’t arrived at a decision yet. I am yet to file formal letters. All I am looking forward to now is my fitness.”
Rayudu played 55 ODIs and five T20Is for India where he scored 1,694 runs (average 47.05) and 42 runs (average 10.05) respectively. During this conversation, Rayudu has added that he still wants to play for India.
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Not really an emotional decision
Talking about his retirement decision from the cricket, Rayudu claimed that it wasn’t any emotional decision. However, he also claimed that he felt disappointed after missing out the World Cup squad.
Rayudu said on this, “Not really an emotional decision. No. I mean I had worked a lot for the World Cup for four to five years. Obviously, you will be a bit disappointed. But I had thought maybe it was time, not because it was rejection or emotion, but you work towards something and maybe then you want something else.
“I had some time to think about this, so thought might as well come and play some cricket.”
Ambati Rayudu also claimed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is very supportive of him. He has also wished to serve CSK in the next season too. Since IPL 2018, Rayudu is playing for this side.
Rayudu said, “I am very happy that CSK has always been very supportive. I would be really happy to prepare well for the IPL and represent CSK. Definitely, I would be playing the IPL.”
After playing 33 matches for CSK, Rayudu scored 884 runs with an average of 34.00.