“Virat Kohli’s likes and dislikes affected Ambati Rayudu’s career”

2007 T20 World Cup winning player Robin Uthappa has made serious allegations against former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. Uthappa says that due to Kohli’s personal likes and dislikes, the careers of many players were affected. Recently he claimed that Yuvraj Singh’s career had ended because of Kohli, and now he has made shocking revelations on Ambati Rayudu’s exit from the 2019 World Cup.

Rayudu’s selection controversy before 2019 World Cup

Ambati Rayudu was considered the first choice as the number-4 batsman of the Indian team in the 2019 World Cup. But when the team was announced, Vijay Shankar was included in the team in his place as a “3D player”.

• Robin Uthappa’s statement:
  

  “Virat Kohli did not like Rayudu, and that was the reason why he was not selected. The World Cup jersey and cricket kit had reached Rayudu’s house. But at the last moment the doors were closed for them. This was completely inappropriate.”

Rayudu’s pain: sarcastic reaction on social media

On being dropped from the World Cup, Ambati Rayudu wrote on Twitter:

“I have bought 3D glasses, it will be easier to watch the World Cup.”
This sarcastic tweet raised questions on the selection process.

Ignored even during the tournament

During the 2019 World Cup, the team had to face the problem of injured players.

• Despite injuries to Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar, Rayudu was not included in the team.
• Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal were called in the team in place of Rayudu.

Robin Uthappa reveals: “It is wrong to close doors for players”

Robin Uthappa said in an interview:

“If Virat Kohli did not like a player, he would drop him from the team. Ambati Rayudu is the biggest example of this. Everyone has their own preferences, but you cannot close the doors to a player after he has reached his level.”

He also said that Rayudu’s non-selection was a big injustice to him.

“Rayudu must be thinking that he is going to play the World Cup. But it was wrong to ignore him at the last moment.”

Lack of coordination between MSK Prasad and Rayudu

Rayudu’s relations with MSK Prasad, who was the chief selector during the 2019 World Cup, were also not good.

• Rayudu later said in an interview that there was a lack of communication between the selection committee and him.
• It is also believed that the selectors gave an important role to “politics” in ignoring Rayudu.

Was Rayudu’s career affected because of Virat?

Robin Uthappa’s allegations have raised serious questions on the selection process in Indian cricket.

• Do the personal likes and dislikes of the captain have such a deep impact on the selection of players?
• Shouldn’t the selectors have acted impartially in such situations?