Ambati Rayudu’s exclusion from the Indian squad for the 2019 ODI World Cup continues to be a subject of debate, and Aakash Chopra has voiced his strong belief that the decision was unjust. Following Rayudu’s recent retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, Chopra took to his YouTube channel to pay tribute to the right-handed batsman and express his views on the World Cup selection process.
According to Chopra, Rayudu should have unquestionably been a part of the 2019 World Cup squad. Reflecting on a conversation they had during an IPL match in Chennai, Chopra disclosed his plea to Rayudu to score runs, as he sensed an atmosphere brewing that could lead to the batsman’s exclusion. Chopra shared, “Ambati Rayudu should have actually played the 2019 World Cup. I remember talking to him. It was a match in Chennai, an IPL game I think. We were talking on the pitch-side and I urged him to score runs. I told him an atmosphere has been created and it seems that he might be dropped, so he should have a good IPL.”
Expressing his belief that Rayudu did not deserve to be dropped, Chopra highlighted the batsman’s confusion regarding the situation. Rayudu questioned what he had done wrong and expressed his dismay at the external pressure and speculation surrounding his selection. Chopra revealed, “He said what could be done as people are creating such an atmosphere and asked what wrong had he done. He was right, he had done nothing wrong but the atmosphere was getting created both from inside and outside that someone else was required other than Ambati.”
The decision to prefer Vijay Shankar over Rayudu for his bowling abilities raised eyebrows. However, when injuries forced Shikhar Dhawan and Shankar out of the World Cup, Rayudu was surprisingly overlooked as a replacement player.
Chopra also commended Rayudu for his open display of emotions, emphasizing that the batsman always wore his heart on his sleeve. Despite occasionally displaying anger and losing his temper, Rayudu’s genuine nature and passion for the game shone through. Chopra stated, “Ambati was dropped after that. He didn’t play the World Cup and you always found one thing – wears his heart on his sleeve. Ambati is always a guy who is the same from within and outside. He could get angry very quickly and might lose his temper as well but is pure gold from the heart.”
During the recently concluded IPL 2023, Rayudu’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate MS Dhoni humorously acknowledged Rayudu’s temperamental side, suggesting that CSK would never have won the IPL’s Fairplay Trophy if Rayudu had been in their squad. Dhoni praised Rayudu’s fierce competitiveness and unwavering emotions, describing him as a brilliant human being with a heart of gold.
In conclusion, Aakash Chopra strongly believes that Ambati Rayudu’s exclusion from the 2019 ODI World Cup squad was an unfair decision. Despite Rayudu’s remarkable contributions in ODIs and his eagerness to represent his country in the World Cup, he was overlooked, and the controversy surrounding his omission continues to linger.
