Rayudu announces retirement from first-class cricket

New Delhi, Nov 4:

India’s  ODI specialist Ambati Rayudu Saturday announced his retirement from  first-class cricket to focus on one dayers and T20s.

The 33-year-old Rayudu is one of the key members of the Indian ODI side but has never played Test cricket.

“This is to inform that Ambati Rayudu, Hyderabad captain and member  of the India ODI team, has decided to retire from longer version of the  game including Ranji Trophy (multi day) to focus on limited overs  cricket and T20 cricket,” Hyderabad Cricket Association said in a press  release.

“He will continue to  play international and domestic matches of  shorter version. He has thanked BCCI, Hyderabad Cricket Association,  Andhra Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Vidharbha  Cricket Association,” the release further stated.

Rayudu, who recently made a comeback in the Indian team by virtue  of a successful IPL for Chennai Super Kings, is being seen as India’s  number four batsman going into the ODI World Cup in England.

He recently had a productive ODI series against West Indies,  scoring 217 runs with a hundred and half-century, prompting both skipper  Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri to single him out for special  praise.

There is a possibility that Rayudu, who will next play for India in  January and February in eight ODI matches against Australia and New  Zealand, wanted to conserve his energies as he doesn’t want to fail  another fitness test.