Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu officially joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Thursday, ending months of speculation about his entry into politics. YSRCP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy welcomed Rayudu into the party at the Camp Office in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister K. Narayana Swamy and MP P. Mithun Reddy.
Rayudu, a stylish middle-order batsman who played 55 ODIs and six T20 internationals for India between 2013 and 2019, had expressed his intention to enter politics in April of the current year, citing a desire to serve the people. Despite having meetings with Jagan Reddy in May-June, Rayudu remained tight-lipped about his political affiliation until Thursday, when he formally joined the YSRCP.
Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Rayudu’s entry into politics raises speculation about his potential candidacy in the upcoming Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls or the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May next year.
Rayudu is now part of a select group of former Indian cricketers who transitioned into politics, joining the likes of Tiger Pataudi, Kirti Azad, Mohammed Azharuddin, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chetan Chauhan, and Gautam Gambhir, among others.
Known for disputes with a teammate and his vocal criticism of management practices during his early career, Rayudu faced challenges that led to the label of a ‘rebel’ and limited international opportunities, including exclusion from the 2019 ODI World Cup squad. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he appeared in 190 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians.
Rayudu played for the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) before accepting a domestic amnesty offer from the BCCI and joining the IPL. In May of the current year, after CSK won the IPL title, he announced his retirement from the tournament. Rayudu, along with Rupa Gurunath, daughter of CSK owner N. Srinivasan, met Jagan Mohan Reddy in June, presenting him with the trophy won by CSK in 2023.
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