In this week on 13th May 2011, India’s ODI team is to be picked for the West Indies tour; as per indications four senior cricketers – MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan – will be given rest. This will create a platform for key IPL performers to sneak a chance to be in real blue color.
Also Read: India Tour Of West Indies 2011 – Complete Schedule
One of key IPL performers is Ambati Rayudu, right-hand batting sensation of Mumbai Indians, who was in solitude after he played in rebellion ICL, looks promising to get an opportunity. His career was in state of dereliction, only to revitalizes and herald in IPL. Now, he is a confident player and reckoning for his inclusion in Indian team for West Indies tour.
Ambati was acclaimed for his talent from the time when he was training at NCA along-side wristy-batter VVS Laxman. He was a part of Under-19 India team in 2004 as captain along with players like Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa. During this period he was seen as potential player to represent India Team. He went onto tour England to represent Under-19 India Team. He also became a regular in the India A squad.
Ambati was in doldrums, when he joined fellow Hyderabad team-mates to play in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007. But when he came out of ICL, he was dropped from the state team. So, he joined Baroda team in Ranji trophy. Last year, he featured in Mumbai Indians and performed well. This year he was not a part IPL 2011 auction, when RCB tried to bring him in, he choose to be with Mumbai Indians. He is currently in fantastic form in the ongoing IPL 4 hitting 4 half-centuries and becoming the 2nd highest run getter for Mumbai Indians after Sachin Tendulkar. Many critics boasted him to be a possible candidate for inclusion in Indian Team for West Indies tour.
But Ambati Rayudu sagely says that his focus is on IPL only, it is a big honour to play under the tutelage of Tendulkar, when he was recently asked about his chances. He has already earned the respect from opposition; they’ve all been talking about Rayudu’s talent that’s been evident in the IPL. He has various strokes and very good wicket keeper too.
He can get a chance for the slot of the wicketkeeper, where Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Wriddhiman Saha and Naman Ojha are in race, but owing to their poor performance in this IPL season, they might not feature in Indian Team for West Indies tour.
Thanks to IPL, this has given a new vigour to Ambati Rayudu’s cricketing career. We should soon see him in the real Blue i.e. Men in Blue.
Tags: Ambati Rayudu, Cricket, India, Indian Premier League, Indian Team, IPL, West Indies