Ex- India Captain Ganguly Hopes Rayudu Will Play In the Coming WC
SOURAV Ganguly, President of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), has batted for inclusion of middle order batsman Ambati Rayudu in India’s World Cup squad. The 12th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July 2019.Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu, 34,is a right-handed middle-order batsman who occasionally keeps the wicket, and a right-arm off break bowler. He plays for Hyderabad in domestic cricket, and Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Speaking to India TV, “This is a settled team and the 14-15 core of the team is settled and I hope all these players are fit come the World Cup and this team will be a strong team,” he added. Meanwhile, India begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton. Recently, after scoring 47 and 40 not out in the second and third ODIs against New Zealand, the Hyderabad cricketer fell short of a century after being dismissed for 90 in the fifth ODI.Ganguly said Rayudu played well. He fizzled out in the middle but has played well overall and I think he will go to the WC and he will play in India after this and he will score runs and go to the WC.” Rayudu, it may be recalled, debuted in the 2001/02 Ranji season and in the next season; he scored a double century and a century in a match against Andhra Pradesh. His contribution of 177 runs in the Under-19 team’s tour to England in 2002 helped his team chase a huge total of 305. In 2004, he captained the Indian U-19 team for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Now he is regular part of the India A squad.
