Did Ambati Rayudu’s tweet cost him dear?

Ever since cricketer Vijay Shankar was replaced by Mayank Agarwal in the ongoing World Cup on Monday, there has been constant debate and discussion about the latter’s inclusion into the Team India squad. Especially since the BCCI picked Mayank over Ambati Rayudu, who is in fact, the standby.

While Team India states that Mayank’s unexpected call was because of his good run in last year’s India A Tri-series in England, cricket fans attribute Rayudu’s cryptic tweet in April for his non-selection.

Rayudu wasn’t originally picked in the World Cup squad when it was announced in April. BCCI Chief Selector M.S.K. Prasad had then said that Vijay Shankar is a three-dimensional player (batting, bowling and fielding) and hence he was picked against Rayudu.

A heartbroken Rayudu then satirically tweeted, “Just ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup (sic).” Later on however, he was included as a standby in the team.

But now, with Team India ignoring Rayudu and selecting Mayank, fans believe that the former’s cryptic tweet has costed him dear.

Criticising the BCCI’s approach to selection, former cricketer Saad Bin Jung states that Rayudu is a better option on these wickets than Mayank, and adds that the Board should put their personal ego above the country and pick the best player.

“If Rayudu was in the reserve as declared by the BCCI and was overlooked for Mayank because the former tweeted against them, then this is not acceptable. We are playing the World Cup, and if you represent the country, then send the best team forward. If you are going to select the team as per egos, then let the team be called as Team BCCI and not Team India,” says Saad.

Former Indian cricketer Noel David has also expressed surprise over Rayudu’s non-inclusion. He however, adds that his tweets need not be taken so seriously. “Even I am surprised why he wasn’t picked,” says Noel.

While everyone is entitled to express their opinion, Rayudu did the same on his social media handle. But was the Hyderabadi cricketer too smart for his own good?

Former Hyderabad Cricket Association Secretary John Manoj says that selectors usually take the performance of the players into consideration. “Perhaps Mayank performed well recently in England and Australia, so he was picked,” suggests Manoj.

Another Hyderabad cricketer Tirumalasetty Suman states that the BCCI is too big a body to think about players’ tweets. He further states that since Team India needs an opener, they picked Mayank and not Rayudu, who bats at No. 4.

“I think the selectors are beyond all these things and that the BCCI is too big a body to look into such tiny matters,” he says.

This shows how no player will daresay BCCI is in the wrong as it will cost them dearly.