The Indian National Cricket team selectors on Monday announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup. England and Wales will host the 12th edition of the tournament starting from May 30. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu who was tipped as one of the strong contenders for the no four batting spot, has surprisingly failed to make the cut. Following his snub, the veteran batter took a subtle dig at the national selectors.
The selection panel headed by former India cricketer MSK Prasad preferred Vijay Shankar over the Ambati Rayudu. Divulging on the reason, Prasad said that Shankar’s ability to contribute in all the departments went in favour of the Tamil Nadu cricketer. He also added that there was nothing against Rayudu but something in favour of Shankar.
Getty Images
“After the Champions Trophy (2017), we tried quite a few people in that position. We did give a few more chances to Rayudu. Vijay Shankar is three dimensional. We are looking at him at no. 4 to begin with. It’s not that anything that went against [Rayudu], it’s that a few things went for [Shankar],” Prasad said.
Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu has been inconsistent with the bat despite getting enough opportunities to seal the spot. Since 2018, he has played 21 games scoring 639 runs including one hundred. However, most of the runs were scored in India while he has failed to offer consistency on overseas soil. Moreover, in the ongoing IPL for Chennai Super Kings, Rayudu has scored only 138 runs from eight games which went against him.
Getty Images
Failing to make the cut for the World Cup, Ambati Rayudu took a subtle dig at the national selection panel. He took to Twitter and wrote that he had ordered a 3d glass to have a keen look at the performance of the players who got a nod ahead of him. However, it is more important for the right-handed batsman to concentrate on his game more and make a comeback after the World Cup with India scheduled to play a lot of ODI series.
“Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup ..,” Ambati Rayudu tweeted.
Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup ??..
