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Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu (born 23 September 1985) is an Indian cricketer. He is a right-handed middle-order batsman who occasionally keeps the wicket, and a right-arm off break bowler. He plays for Baroda in domestic cricket, and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rayudu began his career playing for Hyderabad, making his first-class debut in the 2001-02 Indian cricket season. Strong domestic form brought him to the attention of the national selectors, who instated him as captain of the Indian Under-19 side, he was called as the next Sachin Tendulkar in his early stages, but a series of on-field incidents and disputes with domestic boards led to his ostracisation from the national side. He was banned from Indian cricket due to his signing with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007, although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made him an amnesty offer in 2009 after he cancelled his contract with the league, allowing him to return to Indian domestic cricket. In 2013, Rayudu was called up to the national team on a tour to Zimbabwe, where he finally made his debut for the senior Indian side in a One Day International on 24 July 2013.
Rayudu completed his schooling from Bhavan's Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad. He is married to Chennupalli Vidya and lives in Hyderabad.
There is talent and then there is a time when you make use of your talent when it matters the most. Ambati Rayudu’s time to use his talent and showcase it to the world may not have been a fast-track process, but he was already showing what he was capable of when it came to playing in India’s U-19 campaigns or Ranji Trophy tournaments. Rayudu was not amongst those batsmen who would set the stage on fire and make a statement to the cricketing pundits. His approach to the game was fairly simple – patient. Even as his peers raced their way to national duties, Rayudu took small strides towards his own goal.
It took 11 long years since his fiery 177 for India Colts in a one-day series against England in 2002 to make his ODI debut for India. After years of turmoil on and off the field, Rayudu’s rigours were finally out of the way. He made a telling statement scoring an unbeaten 63 on debut against Zimbabwe and followed it up with little cameos in the series to follow. Rayudu however continued to be a star in the T20 format of the game representing the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
He was recognised as a “special talent” in the setup and as someone who had the ability to finish off games from crunch situations. Rayudu has been a part of India A tours keeping him in the mix for national duties whenever need be.
It took 11 long years since his fiery 177 for India Colts in a one-day series against England in 2002 to make his ODI debut for India. After years of turmoil on and off the field, Rayudu’s rigours were finally out of the way. He made a telling statement scoring an unbeaten 63 on debut against Zimbabwe and followed it up with little cameos in the series to follow. Rayudu however continued to be a star in the T20 format of the game representing the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
He was recognised as a “special talent” in the setup and as someone who had the ability to finish off games from crunch situations. Rayudu has been a part of India A tours keeping him in the mix for national duties whenever need be.