Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu

Personal information
Full name	Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu
Born	(1985-09-23) 23 September 1985 (age 39) Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off-spin
Role	Batsman, occasional wicket-keeper
Relations	Rohit Rayudu (cousin)
International information
National side	India (2013–2019)
ODI debut (cap 196)	24 July 2013 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI	8 March 2019 v Australia
ODI shirt no.	5
T20I debut (cap 48)	7 September 2014 v England
Last T20I	5 October 2015 v South Africa
T20I shirt no.	5
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2001–2005	Hyderabad
2005–2006	Andhra
2006–2010	Hyderabad
2010–2017	Mumbai Indians (squad no. 9)
2010–2016	Baroda
2016–2017	Vidarbha
2017–2020	Hyderabad
2018–2023	Chennai Super Kings (squad no. 9)
2020–2022	Andhra
2022–2023	Baroda
2023	St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots
2023	Texas Super Kings
Career statistics
Competition ODI T20I FC LA Matches 55 6 97 172 Runs scored 1,694 42 6,151 5,479 Batting average 47.06 10.50 45.56 40.28 100s/50s 3/10 0/0 16/34 5/40 Top score 124* 20 210 124* Balls bowled 121 – 798 421 Wickets 3 – 10 13 Bowling average 41.33 – 51.80 31.23 5 wickets in innings 0 – 0 0 10 wickets in match – – 0 – Best bowling 1/5 – 4/43 4/45 Catches/stumpings 14/– 4/– 74/– 68/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  India ACC Asia Cup Winner 2018 United Arab Emirates
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 5 November 2022

Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu (born 23 September 1985) is a former Indian international cricketer, commentator and politician. He played 61 limited overs matches for the India national cricket team between 2013 and 2019. He won the IPL trophy a record six times, being the only player other than Rohit Sharma to achieve this feat. He played for Hyderabad in domestic cricket, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was a part of the Indian squad which won the 2018 Asia Cup. He is a right-handed middle-order batsman, who occasionally keeps wicket and bowls right-arm off breaks.

Rayudu began his first-class career with Hyderabad in 2002 at the age of 16 and, by the following year, was playing for India A. He captained the India Under-19 team at the 2004 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and was expected to break into the senior team. Disputes with players and state association, followed by signing up with the "rebel" Indian Cricket League, led to him being ignored for national team selection. He returned to domestic cricket in 2009 by accepting BCCI's amnesty offer and terminating his ICL contract. After strong performances for Baroda in domestic cricket and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, he was named in the Indian squad for the first time in 2012. He eventually made his international debut in July 2013, in an ODI against Zimbabwe.

After being dropped from Indian squad for the 2019 ICC World Cup, Rayudu got an offer from Iceland cricket board to join Iceland team which he declined.^[1] On 2 July 2019, he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.^[2]

On 28 May 2023, he announced his retirement from the IPL. On 29 May 2023, Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. Shortly after, in June 2023, Rayudu was added to the roster for the Texas Super Kings in the inaugural season of Major League Cricket. It was his first appearance in a franchise league outside of India.^[3]

In 2023, he announced his foray into politics in Andhra Pradesh. On 28 December 2023, he joined YSR Congress Party, but left on 6 January 2024, in a record 9 days. On 10 January 2024, he joined the Jana Sena Party, stating that the party's ideologies match his more than YSRCP's.