Robin Uthappa has revealed an unheard story. Photo: AP/PTI
Ambati Rayudu was shockingly omitted from India's 2019 World Cup squad. Rayudu was backed to be India's number 4 batsman in the ICC event and looked set to do the job after making his return in 2018. But the MSK Prasad-headed selection committee ignored him and picked all-rounder Vijay Shankar.
Rayudu didn't take his exclusion lightly and took a dig at the selection committee with a post on X. His post seemingly did damage to his chances of making it WC squad as a replacement player. The right-handed batsman was ignored even when India needed two replacement players during the tournament.
Nearly six years after the World Cup, Robin Uthappa has revealed an unheard story and blamed former captain Virat Kohli for Rayudu's exclusion from the squad. Speaking to the Lallantop, Uthappa made a shocking reveal and said that Rayudu had his World Cup clothes and kit bag at his home.
"If he (Virat Kohli) didn't like anyone, he didn't feel someone is good, then they were cut. (Ambati) Rayudu is the prime example. You feel bad. Everybody has preferences, I agree but you cannot close the door on a player after taking him to the cusp. He had World Cup clothes, World Cup kit bag, everything was there at his home. A player would be thinking that he is going to the World Cup. But you shut the door on him. That wasn't fair according to me," Uthappa said.
Rayudu announced his retirement during the 2019 World Cup but took a U-turn two months later. He never played for India again. Rayudu once again announced his IPL retirement in 2022 but deleted his post.
His final retirement came in 2023. Rayudu announced his retirement before the IPL 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. Rayudu retired after winning the IPL 2023 title.
Rayudu was part of the Dhoni-led 2015 World Cup squad but didn't get to play a game. He played 55 ODIs and 6 T20Is. The 39-year-old made it to the Test squad but didn't make his debut.
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