Ambati Rayudu is a Candidate For the Middle-order if He Passes Fitness Test: Sanjay Bangar

Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar stated the doors of the Indian team are still open for talented Ambati Rayudu before the next year’s World Cup.

Rayudu’s hopes of making a dream comeback to the Indian team took a big blow after he failed the mandatory Yo-Yo test recently. As a result, he got dropped from the One-day International side for the ongoing three-match series against England

Rayudu earned the call from the national selectors after his dazzling display in the this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

He played an integral role in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) title-winning run this year. In fact, Rayudu had the best IPL with the bat as he amassed 602 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 including one century.

The form earned him a deserved call for the series:

However, the failure to maintain the required level of fitness had jeopardized his return to the national team.

Rayudu’s last ODI appearance had come in 2016 during the tour of Zimbabwe. So far, he has played 34 ODIs and six Twenty20 Internationals for the Men in Blue.

But Ambati Rayudu can still make it to the team according to Bangar. Speaking ahead of the third ODI, Bangar said Rayudu can be considered for selection if he passes the fitness test.

“We will see the players available, their fitness. As you mentioned, Rayudu. Rayudu is someone who can bat really well in the middle-order. But unfortunately, he could not clear the fitness test. But I am pretty sure, if he passes the fitness test, he could also be a candidate. A lot of spots are open,” Bangar said.

Bangar’s comments came after the Indian middle-order once again failed to get going in the second ODI at Lord’s.

The likes of Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Hardik Pandya did little to show that they are good enough. Chasing 323, India were all out for just 236 with none of the middle-order batsmen showing an appetite for a fight.