India vs Australia | Working on my backfoot game to be ready for Aussies, reveals Ambati Rayudu

After missing the ODI series in England due to failing the yo-yo test, Ambati Rayudu made a come back into the Indian side for the Asia Cup and also helped the country lift the Asia Cup by scoring two half-centuries. With the Test series between India and Australia reaching the midway point, the third match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26. Hence Rayudu, who is an ODI format specialist for India is looking to strengthen his arsenal before the three-match ODI series against Australia begins.

“Playing international cricket is itself a challenge and Aussie bowlers are in prime form. So I am preparing in the best way possible. I am trying to work on improving my backfoot game in order to handle the bounce on their lively pitches,” Rayudu said at the launch of the fifth edition of Junior Super Kings on Friday.

In the last home series against Windies, Rayudu scored a century which won the match for India. The innings also made the Indian skipper Virat Kohli state that the Indian team for the World is almost set with Rayudu a firm favourite for a middle-order spot. But Rayudu himself is not too keen to talk about the World Cup which is too far away.

“I am not looking at any batting position as such. I am not really thinking too far (World Cup) too. MS Dhoni (at Chennai Super Kings) and Virat have shown the belief in me and I want to do justice to it. When the captain backs you, it removes the pressure from your shoulders and it helps me to bat aggressively with a lot of confidence,” Rayudu asserted.

Ambati Rayudu had recently announced his retirement from the longer format domestic cricket so as to focus on the shorter format of the game and stay fit for the same. The 33-year-old also feels that he will have to preserve his body as much as he can so as to prolong his career.

“I am 33 and I had a knee injury in the past. So I try to preserve my body as much as possible. Definitely, I do miss out on match practice. But then, there is a huge amount of difference in the way we shape up for the red ball and white ball cricket. I am trying to compensate it by playing other games,” Rayudu said.