Virat Kohli Is The One...Former CSK Star Opens Up About 2019 World Cup Snub

Ambati Rayudu was all but set to be India's designated No. 4 at the 2019 World Cup in England. However, the selectors roped in Vijay Shankar as his replacement at the last minute, with many feeling that it was very harsh on Rayudu, who, even then, skipper Virat Kohli publicly backed.

However, years later, former India batter Robin Uthappa accused Kohli of favouritism, saying that any player he did not like was shunned from the team. 

"If he [Virat Kohli] didn't like anyone, he didn't feel someone was good, then they were cut. Rayudu is the prime example. You feel bad. Everyone has preferences, but you can't shut the door on a player after bringing him so close. He had the World Cup clothes, kit bag, and everything at his home. A player would think he is going to the World Cup. But you shut the door on him. That wasn't fair," said Uthappa told Lallantop.

However, Rayudu, who won multiple Indian Premier League (IPL) titles with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), does not fully agree with Uthappa. 

"What Robin has said is completely true [about liking and disliking in Indian cricket], but it was for a period of time. In an interview, I said that Virat is the one who backed me. End of the day, people get carried away. I felt at that time, that decision, I don't think it was just based on cricket type. It was [mutual], it's the management's call," Rayudu told Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube channel. 

"You cannot blame the selector, captain, or coach. You can't point a finger at one person. Not saying it's not about cricket, but it was entirely not only about cricket.

"Yes, I had the jersey and kit for the 2019 World Cup because they used to get 20-25 players ready with passports, visas, and clothes. They used to send everything. The selection takes place after that because it's tough to do all that at the last minute. It's not like I was in the team and then kicked out," Rayudu said.

"No, no. At that time, the most frustrating thing was that if you were not taking the No. 4 player, then you won't be playing an all-rounder at that position. So, why do you need a 3-dimensional player to bat at No. 4? You need a batter who is there to create a bridge between the top order and lower middle."

In his 55 ODIs for India, Rayudu slammed 1,694 runs at an average of 47.05, which included three centuries and 10 fifties.