Anil Kumble (Twitter Image) feels Ambati Rayudu not playing in ODI World Cup 2019 was a big mistake
Anil Kumble took a dig at former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and former coach Ravi Shastri for not making it to Ambati Rayudu’s squad during the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Chennai Super Kings legend Ambati Rayudu recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket and it was a stellar career finish for the middle-order batsman as he won his sixth IPL title, beating none other than Rohit Sharma. More than any other player who also has six titles.
Rayudu announced his retirement on Twitter just before the final of IPL 2023, and CSK were going to clinch the trophy by giving Rayudu a fitting farewell.
During his trophy-laden career, the middle-order batsman failed to cement his place in the Indian team despite featuring regularly in the IPL. During the year 2019, he produced his best performance with the bat ahead of the ODI World Cup before being dropped from the team.
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Team India’s woes were well known then, with the team looking for a No.4 batsman when Rayudu stepped into the forefront. He scored 602 runs in the 2018 IPL edition before scoring 639 runs in 21 ODIs. However, when it came time to select India’s squad for the World Cup, Rayudu was overlooked, and KL Rahul and Vijay Shankar were preferred over him.
Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble believes it was a ‘big blunder’ by the selection committee as well as the then Indian captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri.
“Rayudu should have played the 2019 World Cup. Oh yes, no doubt about it. This was a big mistake. You groomed him for that role for so long and his name just disappeared from the squad. Still it was amazing,” Kumble said on GeoCinema while commentating on the IPL 2023 final after play was delayed due to rain.
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After the dismissal, Rayudu followed up with an infamous tweet commenting on the then chief selector MSK Prasad’s remark that ‘Vijay Shankar is a 3D player’.
The legend had tweeted, “Just ordered a new set of 3D glasses to watch the World Cup.” He even used to announce his retirement before withdrawing the World Cup, but he never got a chance to prove his worth again. international forum.