Focus is on performance, not selection: Ambati Rayudu
Batsman Ambati Rayudu says he does not care if he is not selected for India as long as he keeps playing well.
Mumbai: Having a batting average of over 50 in ODIs should be enough to get any batsman into the starting XI of most teams but that is not the case when it comes to Ambati Rayudu.
The 31-year-old Rayudu however is more concerned about maintaining his consistent performances, even if the chance to represent the country does not present itself to him.
“I think the only competitor for me is myself. I really don’t care who is there in the team or whether I’m picked or not because it’s not in my hand. My job is to perform,” Rayudu told the Indian Express.
“As long as I’m setting the standards which I want to see myself, to score runs, to be consistent till then I really don’t mind if I’m not called to play for India. There is healthy competition to get into the Indian squad as everyone is performing tremendously well.”
Having missed the Ranji Trophy season with an injury, Rayudu came back strongly scoring a century for India ‘A’ against England. But the right-handed batsman was still overlooked as Yuvraj Singh was recalled to the team.
Rayudu has been seen as a second-string player always part of the squad when India goes on tours of Zimbabwe. Limited opportunities have meant that his focus has been on doing well in the domestic circuit and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians where he will once again be a key man as they look for their third title.