The rebel's tale - Ambati Rayudu

[DesiChap]

The rebel's tale Sriram Veera November 24, 2007 Rayudu: 'I didn't want to play ten years of domestic cricket and feel that I have not played any international-quality opposition' © Getty Images Hyderabad cricket has been hit hard by the Indian Cricket League. Nine players vanished. We know why they left: first-class careers that were leading to cul-de-sacs, a chance to rub shoulders with international stars, grudges against the system. And money. Lots of money. It's a free world and everyone makes their own choices, but how are these former Hyderabad players doing three months after they signed off their state caps - and in the case of one, Ambati Rayudu, a possible India cap? Cricinfo spoke to five of them at a plush resort off the NH7 Hyderabad-Mumbai highway, where some of the ICL boys currently are for a camp. Rayudu and the others - Anirudh Singh, D Vinay Kumar, Ibrahim Khalil and Kaushik Reddy - were understandably hesitant to open up beyond the standard answers of how everything is great, the future rosy, and the ICL the best thing to have happened to them. Look beyond the platitudes and the jargon, though, and you perceive in the answers the wish to seek fresh starts to their careers. Rayudu's decision is the most difficult to understand. "Rayudu was touted as India's next great batting hope ever since he started training at the National Cricket Academy in 2001," his Cricinfo player page says. "... However, his batting since then hasn't matched initial expectations; he has failed to earn a call-up for the national team and has been overtaken by several of his U-19 team-mates, including Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik." Why would such a player, at 21, decide to burn the bridge that could have led to the Indian team? Vivek Jaisimha, Hyderabad's coach, who worked with Rayudu during the 2006-07 season, thinks it was the wrong call. "Of all the players who went there, I think his is the most tragic case. He was knocking on doors, just a couple of big innings away into getting into real form, but he has been playing a victim too long. The bat was always in his hand, he should have gone out there and proved his talent. Silence the critics. But he didn't make the big scores in the last few seasons. He would threaten to get a big score but then throw it away." Rayudu's troubles started in the 2004-05 season . He entered the year on the back of a healthy 45.55 average the previous season and a stupendous run for India A in Kenya , where he averaged 152. Things were looking bright. Then, suddenly, the lights went out. He averaged 11.92 that year from 13 innings, with 36 as the highest score. Rayudu points out that not many understood that his low scores were coming in low-scoring games on a wicked track in Hyderabad. "The Gymkhana was a uneven and seaming track," he says. "All the opposition teams too were getting 150 and we would score, say, over 200. There were five home games and we won all." Jaisimha agrees that it was indeed a brute of track. The scorecards provide additional evidence. Only twice did teams touch 300 (Hyderabad did it once); 13 times sides were shot for under 200 (including three scores of under 100). Five victories came for Hyderabad from seven games. "I thought that was what should have counted," Rayudu says. "I was happy that the team was doing well. Tell me how can you rate batting on that track on the same par with something elsewhere?" He is quick to add that he was very grateful to his Hyderabad selectors, who understood the situation and didn't think about dropping him. "They were very supportive and I would like to thank them. But I am talking about the bigger picture. The system is wrong. There is no proper method to track players." The average of 11 doesn't cut ice with for Jaisimha, though. "Look, I was not the coach then but I feel he could have scored more than that - though I see his point. Also, I would say everybody could have a bad season or two. That was probably his. No shame in running into bad form, but he started to play victim there. He needs to stop finding reasons elsewhere." Following problems with Rajesh Yadav, the Hyderabad coach at the time, Rayudu moved to Andhra the following season in search of better luck. He averaged 35.11, with a top score of 87, for them and then returned to Hyderabad to play under Jaisimha the next season. As it happened, Hyderabad moved out of the Gymkhana ground and started to play at the new stadium in Uppal that year. But as luck would have it, Rayudu was sidelined with a knee injury and played only two games. Jaisimha thinks the situation - a combination of lack of runs, hurt at being considered a flash in the pan, and the injury - made Rayudu claustrophobic. "He is a very, very competitive guy, very aggressive," says Jaisimha. "But then he started having problems with umpires and with things that were not in control. He never could control his emotions, let's say, to his detriment. He would allow things to affect him. He was always finding something to crib against; he was never at fault." Did Jaisimha speak to Rayudu? "Many times. We would have heart-to-heart discussions. He would say the right things, everything would look all right, but on the ground he would go back and do the same thing, showing little respect to the team plan." Things came to a boil in mid-2007. In April that year, during the Inter-state Twenty20 tournament against Andhra in Vishakapatnam , Jaisimha appointed Rayudu, who had recovered from injury by then, captain and dropped Anirudh Singh and Arjun Yadav for lack of commitment. Rayudu responded by hitting 75 and led his team to a victory. Cut to the KSCA All India Invitation Tournament in Bangalore in August and to a game against Air India where, allegedly, all hell broke loose in the dressing room after Rayudu came back after getting out cheaply. A newspaper said he threw a tantrum and that Jaisimha upbraided him, leading to a brawl. Both Jaisimha and Rayudu say nothing of the sort happened. Jaisimha says he only made clear his disappointment with the performance of the top order. He had decided to drop Rayudu for the next game, against Chemplast. "I was going to "rest" him for the next match to give him chaabi (wind him up). I told the selectors about it." Vinay Kumar, the captain says that was when he stepped in to his friend's defence. "I told them [the selectors], 'If you drop him, you will have to drop me also.' Both of us got hundreds in the next game. We had made our point." Jaisimha says that if he had known about this solidarity earlier, he would have dropped Vinay Kumar too. The team management felt Rayudu was missing the point. In their eyes, he had thrown his wicket away again after getting to the hundred. They were unhappy with his body language, and feared that the old habits would kick in again. This [iCL] is our chance to play against quality opposition for three years and it will also be telecast on TV. People will hopefully see me perform. And I want to perform for my own personal satisfaction "He had taken it easy again," says a source. "He had proved his point and I could tell from his body language that he had taken it easy again. I just knew that he wouldn't score much in the next game." Rayudu made 4, in what has turned out to be his last innings for Hyderabad since. Jaisimha still believes in Rayudu's talent and wishes he had more time to work with him. "He is a unique player, very special, he just needs to get his attitude right. I saw him as an India potential. I hope he gets what he wants in the ICL - such a talent should not go waste." Roger Binny, the former India player and former junior coach, has already gone on record with his disappointment at how the Rayudu story has unfolded. "In a [junior] match in England in 2000, we were chasing a modest target," he told the Indian Express. "But it rained and because of the Duckworth-Lewis revised target we lost the match. He started crying in the dressing room. He didn't want to lose; he was very committed. "They [the national selectors] should have picked him right after his under-19 stint. He needed to be guided properly." Rayudu, for his part, admits he missing playing in the Ranji games that are on currently, but says he is trying to move on. "We are available to play but they have banned us. "I didn't want to play ten years of domestic cricket and feel that I have not played any international-quality opposition. We were not getting selected for higher grades. If you were playing for Duleep Trophy or India A, it's a different thing. But this is our chance to play against quality opposition for three years and it will also be telecast on TV. People will hopefully see me perform. And I want to perform for my own personal satisfaction." "This is my reality check," he says. "I am very focused on doing well here and improving my cricket. Hopefully things will fall in place. I would love to play for India one day." Could that still happen? Rayudu's story is one that has had plenty of twists and turns. No one can predict how it will end. We just have to keep tuning in. Sriram Veera is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icl/content/story/322016.html

[Sachinism]

didnt read the full article but Rayudu was very very promising i remember the U19 tour of england and he hit one massive 100, but lately he hasnt really done anything worthy of an international spot maybe he was going through a bad patch or maybe he wasnt upto the level of international cricket i too feel he gave away the chance he could have had, he should have atleast played a lil longer in domestic cricket, i dont understand what he expected from the selectors if he's not scoring major runs

[kooljatt]

yeah ...even i remember that innings...he won the match single handedly...i think he still got age factor on his side to stake a claim...

[talksport]

I am glad he is now in a professional set up and making a living ... IMO It takes minimum 12 months to get over the nightmares and convert his talent into runs

[gator]

anyone who plays victim all the time has got no respect from me.... he had talent, he didnt apply himself and rightly kicked around....

[Bumper]

anyone who plays victim all the time has got no respect from me.... he had talent' date=' he didnt apply himself and rightly kicked around....[/quote'] Agreed Gats. I feel sorry for Rayudu. But he seems to have given up too soon. If he is as big a batting talent as he is claimed to be, his chance would have come. May be he needed a better mentor/coach than Vivek Jaisimha

[Guest HariSampath]

I know Rayudu very well. I had been following his cricket for several years and he is one of the finest strikers of a cricket ball to emerge in recent years. He did have great scores in domestic cricket , was the youngest Indian to get a double ton and a 100 in the same match, captained U-19, did very well in England on U-19 tours and India A etc. He had trouble with Hyderabad cricket association, and most of it was due to Shivalal yadav the sec who was pushing Arjun Yadav and was determined to destroy Rayudu's career. I remember Rayudu talking to me about this 2-3 years back and I even asked him to consider moving out of south zone to save his career. Rayudu had been to Australia on an exchange program ( Border gavaskar sholarship or something), and was highly rated by Aussie coaches. He had an on field skirmish with Arjun Yadav that nearly came to blows and it was reported to BCCI, and later sorted out. Early this year I had asked Rayudu if he was interested in playing for a yorkshire club as I knew someone in the committee who had seen him get a 100 against Surrey and wanted him for 2nd 11, but Rayudu was keen to play for Durham ( he had played there last season), but delays caused him to miss this season. In fact I know personally it is not a question of "playing victim", Rayudu was really victimised by Shivlal yadav, and when he had a poor Ranji season, he needed all the support of his assn but it wasnt there. He was really frustrated as he was very young ( just 21-22) and already been spoken of as the best talent among the youngsters which he really is, and not being promoted enough by his association. rayudu was here in Chennai and I was aware of the factors that led him to choose ICL. He comes from a very modest background, his dad is a Andhra state govt clerk, and financially they are not very well off, so Rayudu had to make a quick decision and chose ICL because he did not see himself going past the Ranji stage ( I personally told him it was a good choice considering all factors). Great pity , as he is one of the best batsmen I had seen among the youngsters. He still is perhaps , as talent cannot go away in a few months or just because he is in ICL. Rayudu is a natural striker of the ball with a fine sense of timing, and just wanted the money and the opportunity of playing Int'l players. I do wish for Indian cricket sake that someday things change wrt BCCI and ICL, because Rayudu can simply walk into the Indian side any day, based on ability alone

[Bumper]

I know Rayudu very well. I had been following his cricket for several years and he is one of the finest strikers of a cricket ball to emerge in recent years. He did have great scores in domestic cricket , was the youngest Indian to get a double ton and a 100 in the same match, captained U-19, did very well in England on U-19 tours and India A etc. He had trouble with Hyderabad cricket association, and most of it was due to Shivalal yadav the sec who was pushing Arjun Yadav and was determined to destroy Rayudu's career. I remember Rayudu talking to me about this 2-3 years back and I even asked him to consider moving out of south zone to save his career. Rayudu had been to Australia on an exchange program ( Border gavaskar sholarship or something), and was highly rated by Aussie coaches. He had an on field skirmish with Arjun Yadav that nearly came to blows and it was reported to BCCI, and later sorted out. Early this year I had asked Rayudu if he was interested in playing for a yorkshire club as I knew someone in the committee who had seen him get a 100 against Surrey and wanted him for 2nd 11, but Rayudu was keen to play for Durham ( he had played there last season), but delays caused him to miss this season. In fact I know personally it is not a question of "playing victim", Rayudu was really victimised by Shivlal yadav, and when he had a poor Ranji season, he needed all the support of his assn but it wasnt there. He was really frustrated as he was very young ( just 21-22) and already been spoken of as the best talent among the youngsters which he really is, and not being promoted enough by his association. rayudu was here in Chennai and I was aware of the factors that led him to choose ICL. He comes from a very modest background, his dad is a Andhra state govt clerk, and financially they are not very well off, so Rayudu had to make a quick decision and chose ICL because he did not see himself going past the Ranji stage ( I personally told him it was a good choice considering all factors). Great pity , as he is one of the best batsmen I had seen among the youngsters. He still is perhaps , as talent cannot go away in a few months or just because he is in ICL. Rayudu is a natural striker of the ball with a fine sense of timing, and just wanted the money and the opportunity of playing Int'l players. I do wish for Indian cricket sake that someday things change wrt BCCI and ICL, because Rayudu can simply walk into the Indian side any day, based on ability alone

Thanks Hari, that was an excellent post :two_thumbs_up:

[Chandan]

Looks like you people don't read the Ranji thread at all. I had posted this article a month back and I had also posted Shivlal Yadav's comments in which he vehemently denied promoting Arjun Yadav and destroying Rayudu's career.

[Guest HariSampath]

Arjun Yadav takes the stump out and Rayudu takes his bat out!

From cricketfundas..... Tension prevailed at the Rural Trust Development Stadium in Ananthapur during the course of the last day of the Elite Ranji Trophy match between Andhra and Hyderabad. Ambati Tirupati Rayudu, the dashing middle order batsman was attacked by a stump by rival Hyderabad Captain and son of former International Cricketer Shivlal Yadav’s son Arjun Yadav. According to a source at the ground, Rayudu’s wicket was followed with some sarcastic comments from some Hyderabad Cricketers and in particular skipper Arjun Yadav. Rayudu who felt insulted by those comments immediately told Arjun Yadav straight on his face that he (Arjun Yadav) was in the Hyderabad side only because of his father Shivlal Yadav's influence and had he not been Shivlal’s son then things would have been something else for Arjun. Arjun Yadav got heated up with these comments from Rayudu and the former took out a stump to attack Rayudu. Rayudu was ready with his bat to defend the attacker. Rayudu has always been the crowd's darling whether he was playing for Hyderabad or Andhra. The agitated Rayalseema crowd after witnessing the unruly actions in the middle started to hurl stones at the Hyderabad players and it was only after police intervention that the crowd was stopped from doing so! With a heavy police cover, players of both sides were taken off to the Railway Station safely. Never mess up in the faction region of Ananthapur folks!

It is believed that Rayudu had been getting lots of comments from the Hyderabad fielders during his stay at the wicket in his two innings. Rayudu failed in the first innings getting out to 20 when he was stumped by Keeper Ibrahim Khaleel off left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Andhra made 231 falling way short of Hyderabad’s 1st innings total of 370. Things changed dramatically in the 2nd innings as the new ball pair of Sahabuddin and Kalyankrishna ran through the Hyderabad side dismissing them for a paltry 80. Sahabuddin picked up 7 wickets. Andhra required just 220 runs to win inspite of giving away a huge first innings lead. A charged up Hyderabad side then fought back hard by removing the first four wickets of Andhra for just 67 runs which included the prized wicket of skipper Venugopal Rao. This is where Rayudu got a partnership going on with Suresh and the attacking Rayudu just punished the bowlers mercilessly. With 5 fours and 1 six he raced onto a rapid half century and he was finally done in once again by Ojha. And that is when trouble erupted as the two Arjun and Rayudu got involved in a heated moment. The Hyderabad players and the umpires managed to pull Arjun Yadav away and Rayudu had finally gone back to the pavilion and play resumed for a while before eventually ending into a draw. Rayudu who at one stage was considered as an upcoming ‘Sachin Tendulkar’ had an indifferent season last year without even crossing a fifty for Hyderabad. This season, Rayudu along with opening bat Tirumalsetti Suman has moved to Andhra after taking a no-objection certificate from the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Rumours spread wide across Hyderabad that the pair had moved out only because of the trouble caused by Arjun Yadav. It is however not clear what exactly the problem was. Those rumours seemed to be true looking at the incidents that took place yesterday. Things were fine for Hyderabad as long as a veteran in Venkatapathy Raju was leading the side until the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh last year. Raju announced his retirement during the course of the match and the Hyderabad players won the game for him with a spirited bowling performance inspite of defending a target of a little over 140. After Raju’s exit, captaincy straight away went to Arjun Yadav inspite of the presence of few deserving senior players. Arjun Yadav who has just managed an average of around 25.00 in first class cricket and a List A average of under 20.00 had made it to the Elite B and the South Zone teams in the Duleep Trophy matches previously and once even played the Challenger Trophy for India B in 2001/02 at Bangalore after just two seasons after making his debut. Lucky bloke is Arjun Yadav certainly! He no doubt has the talent, the Junior Yadav had began his Under 19 Cricket for Hyderabad with a bang scoring hundreds on the trot but his transition into first class cricket has been a major disappointment. In an interview with this website, Shivlal spoke about his son as follows "I would have been happy had Arjun gone little higher in the level he’s playing at the moment now. The way he had shown the promise during his U19 days, he hasn’t met the expectations at this level. Unfortunately he has been having some injuries, like last year he had a severe back injury, he broke his finger and all this was in the middle of the season. So he had his setbacks. Let’s see if he can comeback from them and perform because ultimately if you want to play the higher grade of cricket, you got to attract the selectors through your performances and there’s no other substitute for that." Interestingly both Rayudu and Arjun Yadav have played for India at the Under 19 level and both have the chance of making it to the Indian team, their conduct needs to be strictly checked by the BCCI at this stage! The road is pretty smooth for the 23 year old Arjun as his ‘papa’ Shivlal has just been named as the Director of the National Cricket Academy! Rayudu on the other hand has just got to make his bat do the talking and make people believe that comparisons of Rayudu with Sachin Tendulkar are no media hype. The former India U19 Captain of course has to seriously cut down on the amount of shots he plays when he’s new to the crease, he just gotta control his adrenalin and he needs to learn a lot from Veeru Dada who has hit those big hundreds for India at the Test level.

[fineleg]

I know Rayudu very well. I had been following his cricket for several years and he is one of the finest strikers of a cricket ball to emerge in recent years. He did have great scores in domestic cricket , was the youngest Indian to get a double ton and a 100 in the same match, captained U-19, did very well in England on U-19 tours and India A etc. He had trouble with Hyderabad cricket association, and most of it was due to Shivalal yadav the sec who was pushing Arjun Yadav and was determined to destroy Rayudu's career. I remember Rayudu talking to me about this 2-3 years back and I even asked him to consider moving out of south zone to save his career. Rayudu had been to Australia on an exchange program ( Border gavaskar sholarship or something), and was highly rated by Aussie coaches. He had an on field skirmish with Arjun Yadav that nearly came to blows and it was reported to BCCI, and later sorted out. Early this year I had asked Rayudu if he was interested in playing for a yorkshire club as I knew someone in the committee who had seen him get a 100 against Surrey and wanted him for 2nd 11, but Rayudu was keen to play for Durham ( he had played there last season), but delays caused him to miss this season. In fact I know personally it is not a question of "playing victim", Rayudu was really victimised by Shivlal yadav, and when he had a poor Ranji season, he needed all the support of his assn but it wasnt there. He was really frustrated as he was very young ( just 21-22) and already been spoken of as the best talent among the youngsters which he really is, and not being promoted enough by his association. rayudu was here in Chennai and I was aware of the factors that led him to choose ICL. He comes from a very modest background, his dad is a Andhra state govt clerk, and financially they are not very well off, so Rayudu had to make a quick decision and chose ICL because he did not see himself going past the Ranji stage ( I personally told him it was a good choice considering all factors). Great pity , as he is one of the best batsmen I had seen among the youngsters. He still is perhaps , as talent cannot go away in a few months or just because he is in ICL. Rayudu is a natural striker of the ball with a fine sense of timing, and just wanted the money and the opportunity of playing Int'l players. I do wish for Indian cricket sake that someday things change wrt BCCI and ICL, because Rayudu can simply walk into the Indian side any day, based on ability alone

Hari, Thanks for sharing this.