Ambati Rayadu may well have cemented his place in India's ODI squad, after his exploits against Sri Lanka.
After scoring a scintillating ton, which helped India gain a win, and a 2-0 lead in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Ambati Rayadu has made a strong claim to gain a place in the squad for the 2015 World Cup.
The pint sized batsman scored a brilliant 121 off 118 balls at Ahmedabad, which helped India overhaul a target of 275 with relative ease.
Though at 29, Rayadu cannot be labeled as the 'next big batting hope' anymore, still Thursday's knock has firmly put him in the driver's seat, as far as his India career is concerned, and will definitely give him the required push to challenge for a World Cup berth.
The glaring fact about Rayadu's career is that of him waiting for eleven long years before making his entry in international cricket, despite having an exceptional debut with India colts in 2002, and also the fact that he had an excellent Ranji Trophy season with Hyderabad.
Rayadu, who finally debuted against Zimbabawe in 2013, managed to score a half-century in that game at Harare, before once again disappearing into international oblivion, albeit for a short while.
The ironic part about Rayadu's career is that of his former U-19 India teammates, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan, outshining him in terms of international appearances, a fact which may come to haunt the Andhra Pradesh born batsman.
Even the Indian Cricket League (ICL) fiasco, which almost killed off his chances of returning to India reckoning, is a blot on Rayadu's chequered career, which seems to be on the rise once again, post his ton on Thursday.
Only an amnesty offer from the BCCI allowed Rayadu to cancel his 'lucrative' contract with the ICL, which paved him the way to play in the blockbuster Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2010.
It was a blessing in disguise for Rayadu,as he scored an impressive 356 and 395 runs, during the first two seasons with Mumbai Indians, and established himself as a handy T20 specialist.
Good form and runs followed, and after his excellent stint in the IPL, Rayadu also managed to carve a spot for himself in later India squads, playing in a clutch of ODI and T20 games.
So as things stand, it may be too early to predict whether Rayadu does bank on his current excellent form, and consolidate his position for a spot in the 2015 World Cup squad.
And if he does manage to clinch a place for the touring party to Australia and New Zealand, his case may best be counted amongst, 'Better late than never'.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}