Ambati Rayudu Lacked Confidence To Play 2019 World Cup: Ex-National Selector

Ambati Rayudu was touted to solve the No.4 conundrum for Team India in the 2019 World Cup. He, however, was overlooked ahead of the quadrennial as the selection panel led by MSK Prasad went in favour of Vijay Shankar. Prasad mentioned that Shankar was picked ahead of Rayudu as he is a three-dimensional player.

Following the situation, Rayudu took a sharp jibe at Prasad, with a tweet which said that he has ordered 3D glasses to watch the World Cup. However, further clearing the air, former-national selector Gagan Khoda made a startling remark about the Rayudu snub. He said that the top-order batsman was getting stagnant and did not have confidence going into the World Cup.

“Ambati Rayudu was experienced and you were looking at the World Cup. We carried on with him for a year but we felt he was getting stagnant,” former national selector Gagan Khoda told  Sportskeeda.

“The confidence level going into the World Cup wasn’t there. We couldn’t get any youngster in because the tournament was in England also.”

“I never thought we were weak anywhere. It was just one bad day that we had. One day the match didn’t happen, the next day it happens and the momentum finishes. You have to start all over again, and it happens.”

Rayudu had then announced his retirement from all forms of cricket before reversing his decision and making a comeback. He will be next seen in action during the IPL 2020 in UAE and will be a part of the CSK training camp in Chennai before heading to the gulf.

IPL 2020 will get underway from September 19 with its final being played on November 10. The lucrative tournament will be played for the second time in UAE. However, the fixtures are still to be confirmed, but it looks like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against Mumbai Indians in the inaugural contest.