Vijay Hazare Trophy: Ambati Rayudu Named Hyderabad Team Captain

Despite being touted as India’s preferred No. 4, Rayudu did not make the cut in India’s World Cup squad and was instead named as a back-up.

Hyderabad Cricket Association on Saturday appointed Ambati Rayudu as the team captain for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. Rayudu who had announced his retirement after 2019 ICC World Cup decided to take a U-turn and aspires of making a return to the Indian national team. Despite being touted as India’s preferred No. 4, Rayudu did not make the cut in India’s World Cup squad and was instead named as a back-up. But astonishingly, Rishabh Pant was flown in place of injured Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal was named in the squad when Vijay Shankar was ruled out of injury. Upset by the snub, Rayudu decided to call it quits from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. However, Noel David, chief selector at the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), and former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman Rayudu, who felt that Rayadu still had a lot of cricket left in him, played a major role in persuading Rayudu to change his decision. “This guy (Rayudu) has five years of cricket left in him. He is just 33. Yes, he went through the period where he could have been in the World Cup side but unfortunately he was not there. He felt very bad and was dejected,” David said over phone. “Me and Laxman, we just consoled him and told him ‘You have so much cricket left. So make a comeback, play for your state and then think about the making a comeback to the national team. Your experience will help youngsters, benefit Hyderabad team.’ The convincing part is now done.” Rayudu, in his letter to the HCA, thanked David, Laxman and his Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super League for their role in bringing him back to cricket.