Former India batsman and Member of Parliament, Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday blamed BCCI’s selection panel for Ambati Rayudu’s decision to retire from all forms of cricket.
Gambhir in a tweet cornered the selectors, saying they had an “unfulfilled career” and failed to give Rayudu a fair run.
What surprises me most is that the entire @BCCI current selection panel had an unfulfilled career themselves!!!Even then they could not give a fair run to talent like @RayuduAmbati. What a shame!!! While it’s important to win titles, guess it’s more important to have a heart.
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 3, 2019
“What surprises me most is that the entire @BCCI current selection panel had an unfulfilled career themselves!!!Even then they could not give a fair run to talent like @RayuduAmbati. What a shame!!! While it’s important to win titles, guess it’s more important to have a heart,” Gambhir tweeted.
The cricketing fraternity sympathised with Rayudu, who was overlooked by the team management, which picked Mayank Agarwal as a replacement player for an injured Vijay Shankar in India’s 15-man World Cup squad.
Former batsman Virender Sehwag in a tweet said that being ignored by the management must be painful for Rayudu. He further wished him good luck for his future endeavours.
“Must definitely be very painful at being ignored for the World Cup for #AmbatiRayudu but I wish him all the very best in life after retirement,” Sehwag wrote.
Mohammad Kaif, the former batsman, said that Rayudu did everything he could to make a comeback in the team. He further added that the World Cup snub has hurt him deeply.
“Have to feel for #AmbatiRayudu, did everything he could to make a comeback, did well in the opportunities he got but the World Cup snub must have hurt him really deeply. Wish him the best in retirement,” Kaif tweeted.
Former cricketer VVS Laxman felt sorry for in-form Rayudu and wished him happiness and peace in his second innings.
“Can understand the pain and anguish Ambati Rayudu may be feeling after the World Cup snub even after performing well. I wish him lots of happiness and peace in his second innings,” Laxman said.
Rayudu, the former middle-order batsman, made a decision to step away from cricket earlier today. In a letter to the BCCI, he said, “I have come to decision to step away from the sport and retire from all forms and levels of the game.”
The 33-year-old expressed his gratitude to the national governing body for cricket and all the state associations including Hyderabad, Baroda, Andhra and Vidharbha, and IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians for their support. He also thanked captains MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli under whom he played.
The former middle-order batsman signed off, saying he learned from every up and down in his career at various levels. He also thanked his family and well-wishers for their continued support.
Rayudu was a regular member in the Indian squad for the past one year and averaged 47.05 in the ODI format. He had been team’s number four batsman since the Asia Cup last year. He had scored one century and four half-centuries since then.
Rayudu even scored 113-ball 90 in New Zealand earlier this year paving the way for India’s victory. But he fell off the wagon of late as he was not able to replicate his good performances in the ODI series against Australia. The batsman played 55 ODIs for India, scoring 1694 runs at an average of 47.06.