Suresh Raina Wanted Ambati Rayudu At No.4 For India In 2019 World Cup

Former India batsman Suresh Raina said that he wanted to see Ambati Rayudu bat at No.4 during the 2019 World Cup. 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.

Rayudu lost his place to Vijay Shankar for the marquee event. Prasad mentioned that Shankar was picked ahead of Rayudu as he is a three-dimensional player. However, Raina said that, Rayudu had worked very hard to bat at that position. Adding that he performed really well but was not picked up.

“I wanted Rayudu to be India’s number four because he was working very hard, playing almost one and half years. He performed really well and he wasn’t there. I didn’t enjoy the tour in 2018 because of the circumstances where Rayudu failed his fitness test. It didn’t feel good that I was picked as he failed,” Raina was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

“He was good at number four. If he was part of the squad for the World Cup, we would have won the tournament. Rayudu was the best choice and as it’s the way he plays the game in the CSK. And he was batting really well in the camp in Chennai” added Suresh Raina.

Following India’s exit in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, a lot of critics has said that the main reason for their failure was the No.4 conundrum. During the span of the event, India had kept that position flexible, depending upon the situation of the match. Later after the marquee event, Shreyas Iyer looks to have cemented that spot with his performances.

Rayudu, meanwhile, 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.