Ignored for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Indian middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu has decided to retire from all forms of cricket, a BCCI official said.
The 33-year-old Andhra batsman was in the official standby list for the big event in the UK, but was ignored despite injury to all-rounder Vijay Shankar. Opener Mayank Agrawal was brought in on the team management's insistence.
The player is yet to make a formal announcement but has communicated his decision to the BCCI. 'He has told the Board,' the official said.
Rayudu played 55 ODIs for India, scoring 1694 runs at an average of 47.05. He earned the reputation of being a temperamental player owing to several confrontations with fellow cricketers and even match officials in the domestic circuit.
The player, who could never break into the Test team, was in the spotlight before the World Cup.
Declared the preferred No.4 batsman by captain Virat Kohli not many months ago, Rayudu was ignored for Shankar in India's final squad for the ICC World Cup.
Chairman of selectors M. S. K. Prasad had justified the move by saying that Shankar had 'three-dimensional skills'.
Rayudu then took a dig at that statement with a cheeky social media post.
Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup 😉😋..
— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) April 16, 2019
Soon after the news of his retirement spread, netizens poured their hearts out on Twitter.
They were disheartened with his exclusion from the squad and his decision to step down from all forms of cricket.
Some blamed the politics of the game, some blamed the BCCI and some even took digs at Prasad's justification for dropping him and stated that Rayudu's '3D (sic)' tweet was the reason behind his exclusion from the World Cup squad...
Really feel for #AmbatiRayudu. Always gave it everything he had but sometimes was left holding the wrong cards. So hope he continues in domestic white ball cricket so that we can see his wholehearted style of play in the #IPL. This is an emotional moment but there is a tomorrow
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 3, 2019
Eagerly waiting to see who all cricketers congratulate Ambati Rayudu on his career. #3dglasses #Ambatirayudu
— vishwanag hiremath (@vishwanag) July 3, 2019
This was the day his career ended. Even ICC doesn't go against BCCI. You're just a player. #Ambatirayudu #CWC19 https://t.co/9nqYdYGtnA
— Vaseem Khan (@iamvaseem) July 3, 2019
Ambati Rayudu announces retirement from all forms of cricket
— Abhishek Mishra (@Abhi_m_official) July 3, 2019
Probably the tweet on 3D glasses cost him his career #Ambatirayudu#WorldCup2019
Happy Retirement Ambati Rayudu!! #3DPlayer 😂😂😂
— Rahi Dalal (@DalalRahi) July 3, 2019
Biased and politics in @BCCI selections. Rayudu and Shankar has been in the race of selections to worldcup.where as shankar is selected.Rayudu is the standby option for shankar's injury.But it didn't happened. #Ambatirayudu
— Venkat gandhasri (@venkat_19999) July 3, 2019
As a cricket fan, it's really sad to see someone forced to retire when he was perfectly fitting the role india still in a search for. #BCCI was really egoistic in naming the replacements. #Ambatirayudu never got his timing right, still fought like a champ. #respect
— Sahil Mahajan (@MSDian_forever) July 3, 2019
With a average of 47 in ODI to a potential middle order batsman for #WC19 where we thought we would be seeing him play right now and he retires #Ambatirayudu and he being in stand by doesn't get selected politics end his career🙏😞best of luck for the future buddy❤️
— Kaushal Rao (@RaoKdr) July 3, 2019
The Most unluckiest cricketer of our time is finally retired....Thanks Ambati Rayudu for all the Memories #AmbatiRayudu #Thanakopamethanashatruvu
— Shashi Mathukumilli✍🏽🇮🇳 (@shashi555m) July 3, 2019
That's how the best players are treated. He has better stats than some of playing ones. @RayuduAmbati All the best for life ahead. You are true legend. #ambatirayudu
— Jitendra Singh (@sitapurwale) July 3, 2019
With power comes responsibilities, we know since childhood. I think #BCCI ignored the responsibility part way behind them and their egoistic choices. If I could, I would have demanded an apology from #BCCI for spoiling mindset of a player and leaving him no choice. #Ambatirayudu
— Sahil Mahajan (@MSDian_forever) July 3, 2019
There were people who did not waste any time to point out Rohit Sharma's disappointment when he was dropped from the World Cup squad in January, 2019.
When You are Frustrated #BeLikeRohitSharma #NotLikeAmbattiRayudu #Ambatirayudu pic.twitter.com/LgNpOvmswI
— Sanjith (@Sanjith15400388) July 3, 2019
Yup agree with you I don't know y he is doing he can work on him and be like rohit but it's his decision we can't say anything but I wanna a say one thing lot of players are not select in wc it doesn't mean they retire and nobody responsible for his retirement#ambatirayudu https://t.co/Yiuv4ipsua
— Piyush Vijayvergiya (@thepiyushvijay) July 3, 2019
Very sad news. A class batsman departs...
— Ami Suman (@sumanamitAmi) July 3, 2019
He should have taken the inspiration from @ImRo45 who was disappointed for not being selected for #WorldCup2011 squad but he bounced back and see where is he now. #AmbatiRayudu#CWC19 https://t.co/cJaTtcJgop pic.twitter.com/prrwBvT2S5
A few members of the Twitterati thought that his decision to give up wasn't right. And that frustration of not getting selected was the reason behind his retirement.
Moreover, last year, Rayudu hit the headlines after being handed a two-match ban for a verbal altercation with on-field umpires during the Syed Mughtaq Ali Trophy. Facts like that could not be overlooked by this particular netizen:
Ppl who are feeling bad for Rayudu right now need to understand that he has a serious temperament issue. He let the frustration of being replaced by Shakar get the better of him & tweeted against a team mate
— Angry Black Owl (@AngryBlackOwl) July 3, 2019
How can any1 see him & Shakar play side by side anymore?#Ambatirayudu
@RayuduAmbati is very arrogant just look at patience of @DineshKarthik played after 10 years of wait.#Ambatirayudu
— Rit Jain (@ritjain13) July 3, 2019
#Ambatirayudu
— Kumar786 (@Kumar78611) July 3, 2019
One of the best things that has happened to indian cricket 👍
Dead wood 💯
#Ambatirayudu pic.twitter.com/PoKBM96QVQ
— Rahul (@Rahul68468489) July 3, 2019
When Your Frustrated
— Suriya Kanth Singh 🔥 (@SurajSingh2567) July 3, 2019
Be Like Rohit Sharma
Not Like Ambatti Rayudu #Ambatirayudu pic.twitter.com/SQjw3o67kq
#Ambatirayudu was not in form in the recent ipl hence he ws not selected
— kannanxxx (@kannanxxx1) July 3, 2019
Why he is a such cry baby
He stil could made it to t20 cup
Will miss his batting
Most expressed grief, some even expressed anger but the 33-year-old cricketer is yet to announce the reason behind his decision.
India is set to face Sri Lanka in their next ICC Cricket World Cup match on Saturday.
