‘Filthy’ people like MS Dhoni will not remain forever, says Yograj Singh on Ambati Rayudu’s retirement

Former cricketer Yograj Singh has found to be critical of MS Dhoni a number of times. On several occasions, he has blasted the former India captain accusing him of not doing justice to his son Yuvraj Singh who retired recently. And now, the temperamental 61-year-old has criticised Dhoni again along with the selectors over Ambati Rayudu’s decision to retire from the game. Ambati Rayudu recently called it quits after getting ignored for India’s World Cup squad more than once.

The 33-year-old was in the scheme of things as India’s No.4 batsman in the playing XI and played in that position for many months. However, his bat refused to make big statements as 2019 set in and eventually, Rayudu could not make it to the World Cup squad. Batting all-rounder Vijay Shankar pipped him despite starting his ODI career in January in Australia and chief selectors MSK Prasad had said that he is a “three-dimensional” cricketer.

An upset Rayudu then had mocked things by saying in a tweet that he has ordered a set of 3D glasses to watch the World Cup. During the mega event, two Indian cricketers, Shikhar Dhawan and Shankar were ruled out because of injury. But on neither occasion was Ambati Rayudu was called up as the replacement even though he was in the list of reserve players for the World Cup.

While Rishabh Pant went to England to replace Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal was called up as Vijay’s replacement although he is yet to make his debut in ODIs. Rayudu found it too much to digest and quit the game soon after Mayank was called up.

Yograj saddened by Rayudu’s sudden retirement

Yograj Singh said he was saddened with Rayudu’s decision to quit which he opined to be hasty. He urged the Hyderabad batsman to return from retirement and prove his mettle to the Indian selectors by playing in various domestic championships.

“Rayudu should’ve continued playing, more and more. He should’ve played Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, scoring 100s, 200s, 300s with not outs. He still has a lot of cricket left in him,” Yograj was quoted as saying by NNIS Sports.

The former India cricketer who had a brief international career with just one Test and six ODIs also blamed MS Dhoni for the Rayudu story. While he compared former India captain Sourav Ganguly for promoting several youngsters during his days, he compared Dhoni with “filth” and accused him of repeatedly overlooking Rayudu’s performances.

“Rayudu, my son you took the decision in haste. Come out of retirement and show them what you are capable of. People like MS Dhoni will not remain forever, filth like these will not remain forever,” he said. It may be mentioned here that in the 2015 World Cup, Rayudu was in the Indian squad that was led by Dhoni though he did not get a single game in the tournament.