Ambati Rayudu career timeline: A promising start, a premature end

Considered an India prospect from early in his career, Ambati Rayudu perhaps found his India recognition a tad too late, but he has achieved considerable success in the domestic circuit, having played for Hyderabad, Baroda, Vidarbha, and Andhra.

Rayudu has achieved considerable success in the domestic circuit, having played for Hyderabad, Baroda, Vidarbha, and Andhra. 

Considered an India prospect from early in his career, Ambati Rayudu perhaps found his India recognition a tad too late and his India run not extensive.

But he has achieved considerable success in the domestic circuit, having played for Hyderabad, Baroda, Vidarbha, and Andhra.  Rayudu retired from first-class cricket last year to focus on his limited-overs career, for perhaps a big push towards World Cup selection. But having been overlooked for the World Cup, the 33-year-old has now retired from all cricket.

Here are some highlights of his international and domestic career: 

July, 2000: Features in the Asian Cricket Council U-15 tournament, emerges as the Man of the Series. 2001-02: Makes his Ranji Trophy debut, playing for Hyderabad November, 2002: Scores a double-century and a century in a single match against Andhra as a 17-year-old. Has a fruitful season, scoring 698 runs in the Ranji Trophy. July, 2003: Plays for India A in tour of England. September, 2003: Plays in the Challenger Trophy. October, 2003: Is chosen to lead the U-19 India squad for a four-nation tournament. February, 2004: Leads the Indian team in the U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. India’s campaign ends in semis. August, 2004 : Is selected for India A tour of Kenya January, 2005: Is made captain of the U-19 team against the visiting English team. 2005-06: Switches to Andhra due to differences with Hyderabad coach. August, 2007: Signs up to play for the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League. 2006-07: Re-joins Hyderabad. June, 2009: BCCI grants amnesty to players who played in the ICL. February, 2010: Mumbai Indians recruits Rayudu. He scored 356 runs in his first season. September, 2010: Signs up to play domestic cricket for Baroda. The step is not welcomed by Hyderabad coach Venkatapathy Raju. He scores 566 runs from nine matches in the 2010-11 season. July, 2012: Named in probables for World Twenty20. Not selected in the final squad. August, 2012: Named in India A squad for New Zealand tour. December, 2012: Named in India squad for T20s against England. July, 2013: Named as M. S. Dhoni’s replacement in ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and West Indies. That same month, makes his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe. Scores a half-century. Rayudu made his T20 debut against England in 2014.   September, 2014: Makes his Twenty20 debut, in Birmingham against England. November, 2014: Scores his maiden century, against Sri Lanka. August, 2015: Named India A captain for unofficial Tests against South Africa A. July, 2016: Signs up to play domestic cricket for Vidarbha. June, 2017: Joins Hyderabad again, returning after 11 years away. January, 2018: Bought by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL auction. The same month, gets banned for two matches for arguing with umpires during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 contest. June, 2018: Fails fitness test for the ODI series against England. October, 2018: Scores what turns out to be his final ODI century, November, 2018: Retires from first-class cricket to focus on limited-overs cricket. January, 2019: Reported for suspect bowling action. April, 2019: Overlooked for World Cup. Tweets he will watch the event via 3-D glasses, a reference to M. S. K. Prasad’s description of Vijay Shankar, who was chosen ahead of him. He is named stand-by for the World Cup. July, 2019: Announces retirement from all cricket.