IPL 2020| Rayudu might not be '3D' player but efficient at one dimension, insists Aakash Chopra

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Former Indian Test opener turned cricket analyst Aakash Chopra reckons Ambati Rayudu might not be a three-dimensional player but he is very good in batting, which is the only dimension he has. Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, MSK Prasad had dropped Rayudu for Vijay Shankar's 'three-dimension' skills.

There were a lot of concerns regarding Chennai Super Kings as they were hit hard even before the tournament commenced losing key players in the form of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh. Given CSK boasts a fairly good spin attack, Suresh Raina's absence, in particular, was supposed to be a body blow in batting as the franchise lacked good players for his spot and they didn't even name a replacement. Batting at 4, which might well turn to be no.3 sooner than we expect, Ambati Rayudu played a match-winning hand of 71 runs in CSK's opening encounter against defending champions Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing a total of 163 runs, Rayudu batted as if he was trying to make a statement as he took on the MI attack, which is very decent to make 71 off just 48 deliveries with the help of six fours and three sixes. His knock prompted Aakash Chopra to tweet that he might not be an all-round player but does very well in what his speciality lies and that is batting. 

It seemed as if Aakash Chopra was taking potshots at the former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, who had cited Vijay Shankar's 3D skills as the reason to pick him ahead of Ambati Rayudu for the 2019 World Cup, a move which backfired badly as India's middle-order was exposed in the tournament with Shankar also failing to impress before he was ruled out with an injury.

“We did give a few more chances to Rayudu but Vijay Shankar gives three dimensions. He can bat if the conditions are overcast, he can bowl, plus he is a fielder. We are looking at Vijay Shankar as a No. 4,” MSK Prasad had said. 

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