Ambati Rayudu, a name that once promised to be one of India’s greatest cricketing talents, turns 39 today on September 23, 2024. Throughout his career, Rayudu showed flashes of brilliance and lived up to his reputation as a naturally gifted batsman. However, his cricketing journey was marred by several controversies, disputes, and instances where his fiery temper got the better of him. Rayudu’s career, which spanned more than a decade, saw him play for multiple domestic teams, franchises in the IPL, and of course, the Indian national team. But despite his undeniable talent, Rayudu’s international career was brief, contentious, and filled with missed opportunities.
Early Promise That Never Fulfilled Its Potential
Ambati Rayudu burst onto the cricketing scene in 2002 during India’s Under-19 tour of England. As a 16-year-old, he smashed an unbeaten 177, catching the eye of cricket experts and raising hopes that he would soon represent India on the biggest stage. Following this, he delivered stunning performances in domestic cricket, including a double century and a century in the same match in the Ranji Trophy.
By 2004, Rayudu was captaining India in the Under-19 World Cup, and it was widely expected that a call-up to the Indian national team would follow soon after. However, things didn’t go as planned. His temper and a series of disputes off the field delayed his debut by several years. In fact, instead of breaking into the national side at the age of 20 or 21, Rayudu had to wait until he was 27 to make his debut for India in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2013.
Domestic Disputes and the Indian Cricket League Controversy
While his talent was never in question, Rayudu’s temperament often led him into trouble. In domestic cricket, he was embroiled in multiple controversies. He made his first-class debut for Hyderabad, but after a fallout with coach Rajesh Yadav and an altercation with Arjun Yadav, he left the team to play for Andhra Pradesh. In a heated moment during a Ranji match, Arjun Yadav even attacked Rayudu with a stump. These kinds of altercations kept him in the news for the wrong reasons.
The most significant controversy in Rayudu’s career came in 2007 when he joined the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL), rebelling against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). At the time, the BCCI did not recognize the league, and Rayudu, like other players who joined, was banned from playing in domestic cricket and for the Indian national team. This decision halted his international career just as it was about to take off. However, the ICL was disbanded in 2009, and Rayudu had to apologize to the BCCI to re-enter the mainstream cricketing fold.
Return to Domestic Cricket and the IPL
Rayudu’s return to cricket came with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2010 when he was signed by Mumbai Indians for ₹12 lakh. His performances in the IPL were consistently strong, and he played key roles for both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the years that followed. His performances in the IPL earned him the reputation of being a dependable middle-order batsman who could perform under pressure.
Despite his on-field performances, Rayudu’s temperament remained a topic of discussion. He famously clashed with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh during heated moments in IPL games. Nonetheless, his IPL career kept him relevant and eventually led to his return to the Indian team.
International Career and Retirement in Frustration
Rayudu’s international career officially began in 2013 when he made his ODI debut, followed by his T20 debut in 2014. However, despite his abilities, he never managed to cement his place in the national side. He played 55 ODIs and 6 T20 Internationals but never got the chance to play in a single Test match for India.
The biggest disappointment of his career came in 2019 when, despite being one of India’s top performers in the run-up to the World Cup, Rayudu was not selected for the squad. Instead, the selectors went with Vijay Shankar, which caused an uproar among fans and cricket pundits. Rayudu’s infamous tweet in response to this snub, “Just ordered a new set of 3D glasses to watch the World Cup,” reflected his frustration. Shortly after the World Cup squad was announced, Rayudu retired from all forms of cricket in anger, only to return later and continue playing in the IPL.
