Making a comeback in the professional cricket after around three months later, Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu played a match-saving knock for India A in the ongoing Quadrangular Series at Bengaluru and also has claimed that he is ready to return in the international cricket.
The 32-year-old Rayudu was in the lethal form with the bat during the IPL 2018 where the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman finished as the fourth leading run-scorer in the tournament by scoring 602 runs in 16 innings with the average of 43.00 and strike-rate of 149.75.
His great IPL form provides a comeback opportunity for him in the international cricket after around two years later as he was selected in the Indian ODI squad for the England tour. But he had a hard luck in the new fitness system Yo-Yo test where he failed to get the pass mark in that mandatory test and missed the England flight.
Rayudu felt disappointed to miss that opportunity due to failing the fitness test but he believes in the test and worked to clear it and finally he succeeded that gives him another opportunity to play for India A in the ongoing Quadrangular Series at Bengaluru where India B, Australia A and South Africa A are also participating.
Returning in the competitive match after almost three months later, Rayudu saved the India A against Australia A on Thursday where he scored an unbeaten 62-run (off 107 balls; 5 fours and only six) that helped his team to win the game by 5 wickets. Chasing down a target of 152 runs in 50 overs, India A was once struggling on 29/4. But then, he put an important 109-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Krunal Pandya (49) and guided the team till the end to secure a victory.
After his brilliant comeback performance, the Player of the Match Rayudu said in post-match press-conference, “I was disappointed with myself that I could not clear the test. Nothing against the test at all as everybody has to attain a certain fitness level playing for India. To be honest, I believe in it. I was disappointed with myself as to why I could not clear the test so I worked towards it and cleared it.
“I cleared it a few days back and I also got a call up and am happy to be back in the scheme of things. In a country of billion people, if you are able to represent your country, you will be happy, it is always a matter of pride. And I am happy that I am now in the scheme of things and just waiting for the opportunity.”
