Former batsman, Ambati Rayudu was one of the gems of the Indian cricket team. However, seldom he received the recognition that he always deserved. He recently played his last Indian Premier League match in the 2023 season helping CSK clinch the trophy. Sadly, the star batsman announced his retirement in 2019. Why? Because he was overlooked by the Indian team selection committee for the 2019 World Cup. He recently revealed the reason why he believes he was not selected for the 2019 T20 World Cup squad.
Ambati Rayudu recently came forward to reveal why he was not selected in the 2019 T20 World Cup squad
While talking to TV9 Telugu, Ambati Rayudu shared how in the early stages of his career, he had issues with certain members of the selection committee. Interestingly, one of the members of that committee was none other than MSK Prasad, whom Rayudu subtly blamed.
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Rayudu said as we quote,
“I had some issues with the member of the selection committee when I was playing with them in the early stages of my career, which might be one of the reasons why I was out of the team in World Cup 2019”
The then chief selector of 2019 WC, MSK Prasad responds to claims by Rayudu
MSK Prasad who was also the former wicketkeeper of the Indian cricket team responded to the claims made by Ambati Rayudu on the 2019 WC selection. In an interview with timesnownews.com on Thursday he said as we quote,
“All of us know that the selection committee has got five selectors and the captain sitting in the selection committee. Will any single person’s decision be taken or is it a consensus or is it a entire collective decision that would be taken? If an individual can take a decision then you don’t require five selectors.”
He further added,
“So any decision that is taken only happens with the consensus of the entire selection committee. So it is a collective decision. Not an individual decision. I may propose something but somebody else has to accept it. No individual decision will prevail in a committee.”
About playing in the same team during the 2005 Andhra Ranji team, Prasad said “Small difference…”
In the early stages of their career, both Rayudu and Prasad used to play for Andra Ranji’s team. While talking about the reason why he was out of the 2019 T20 World Cup squad Rayudu also mentioned how did not like MSK Prasad’s method of captaincy. Addressing that, Prasad said it was fine for Rayudu to not like his style of captaincy however it did not lead to any personal animosity. Prasad said as we quote,
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“In a team, a small difference can happen during a long cricketing season. There can be a difference of opinion between brothers also. But that cannot be the reason to carry such small differences here and there to such a big platform like Indian cricket team’s selection.”
Prasad sought to clear the air between him and Rayudu. Therefore, he concluded by saying,
“Rayudu got selected for Indian Team for all the previous international games prior to the World Cup. When one doesn’t have differences for those matches then how come any difference will come for World Cup selections? I want to clear the air that the selection process is a complete collective decision but it will never be an individual opinion or decision.”
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