Picture Credit: Twitter
CSK batsman Ambati Rayudu announced retirement just hours before the 2023 IPL final against Gujarat Titans on May 28. Rayudu ended his illustrious career with six IPL trophies and more than 4000 runs in the cash-rich league. However, the batsman was snubbed for the 2019 ODI World Cup after being a mainstay in the team for a long time, replaced by Vijay Shankar for his all-round abilities. In the wake of Rayudu’s retirement, former India cricketer Anil Kumble has opened up this decision, claiming it as a ‘huge blunder’.
Kumble mentioned the fact that the batsman was given a long rope at the number four and still was not picked for the major tournament. The leg-spinner while talking on Jio Cinema asserted, “Rayudu should have played the 2019 World Cup. Oh yes, there's no doubt about it. It was a huge blunder. You prepared him for that role for so long and his name just disappears from the squad. It was surprising nonetheless.”
Adding salt to his wounds, he was not even announced as a replacement despite injuries to Shankar and Shikhar Dhawan during the tournament with Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal being included in the squad.
It is to be noted, hours after retiring from IPL, Rayudu announced retirement from international cricket briefly after winning his sixth IPL title lately. The explosive batsman did not have the international career he would have expected as he has retired after playing 55 ODIs and six T20Is since making his debut in 2013.