Rayudu calls it quits from red-ball cricket
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||Desk Report||
Ambati Rayudu on Saturday (November 3) announced his retirement from first-class cricket to focus on shorter versions of the game. He will continue to play white-ball cricket at domestic and international levels.
The 33-year-old has been regularly featuring in India’s ODI team since the Asia Cup this year and has a few T20Is under his belt as well, but he never played any Test for the national side.
Rayudu is one of the very few players who have an average of over 50 in ODIs. In 45 matches, he has amassed 1447 runs at 51.67, with three centuries in the 50-over format.
In a 17-year long first-class career, Rayudu accumulated 6151 runs in 97 matches, at a healthy average of 45.56.
“This is to inform that Ambati Rayudu, Hyderabad captain and member of the India ODI team, has decided to retire from longer version of the game including Ranji Trophy (multi day) to focus on limited overs cricket and T20 cricket,” Hyderabad Cricket Association stated in a press release.
“He will continue to play international and domestic matches of shorter version. He has thanked BCCI, Hyderabad Cricket Association, Andhra Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Vidharbha Cricket Association,” the release added.
Rayudu made his ODI debut in 2013, but failed to cement his place in the setup for the first few years. With a brilliant display in the IPL earlier this year, where he made 602 runs in 16 matches for the reigning champions – Chennai Super Kings, the batsman became a strong contender for India’s limited-overs team.
The Hyderabad-based player was included in India’s ODI squad ahead of their tour of England but lost his place to Suresh Raina after failing to clear the Yo Yo test. He then staged a comeback into the ODI fold before the Asia Cup where India emerged as continental champions. The right-hander clubbed a century and made 217 runs in four innings, helping India to a 3-1 ODI series win over West Indies recently.
