Cricketer Ambati Rayudu had in April this year decided to enter politics and said he wanted to serve people.
Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu on Thursday officially joined the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy . YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy welcomed Rayudu into the party fold in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy and MP P Mithun Reddy at the camp office.
Cricketer Ambati Rayudu Join YSR Congress Party
In fact, political parties of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were trying to guess which party Rayudu would join. In May-June, he held a few meetings with Jagan Reddy but kept mum about his political move. The cricketer, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, finally ended the suspense by joining YSRCP on Thursday. Rayudu may contest the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections or the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May next year. YSRCP highlighted the event on its official platform acknowledging the entry of the renowned cricketer into the political arena.
Ambati Rayudu met Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Reddy in June this year. Since then, speculations were being made that Rayudu could join Andhra Pradesh’s party YSRCP. Now these speculations have turned into reality. Rayudu has joined YSRCP. Andhra Pradesh CM also wanted Rayudu to contest the next Lok Sabha elections. It has not yet been finalized from which Lok Sabha seat Rayudu will contest, but if reports are to be believed, YSRCP can field Rayudu from Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat. The YSRCP party was formed on March 12, 2011. Since then, the party has carved its own identity in Andhra Pradesh.
Cricketer Ambati Rayudu: Change from Cricket to Politics
Ambati Rayudu, known for his contribution to Indian cricket and his role in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently announced his retirement after CSK’s win in 2023. After his cricketing career, Rayudu expressed his intention to enter politics and embark on a tour of his home state, Andhra Pradesh, to get acquainted with the issues faced by the people.
For the YSR Congress Party, given the representation of Andhra Pradesh and India on the international cricket stage, Ambati Rayudu’s entry has the potential to attract young voters. Additionally, their association with the popular CSK franchise in the IPL, which has a strong fan base across the country including Andhra Pradesh, could play a crucial role in garnering support. With the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections also approaching, Rayudu’s presence could contribute significantly to the party’s poll strategy.
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Cricket Career of Cricketer Ambati Rayudu
Rayudu, a middle-order batsman, has played 55 ODIs and 6 T20 Internationals for India between 2013 and 2019. He has played 190 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rayudu announced his retirement from the IPL after Chennai Super Kings won the title in May this year.
He played 55 ODIs for India, where he scored 1694 runs at an average of 47.05. His best innings was 124 not out. He scored three centuries and 10 half-centuries in ODI cricket for India. He also played six T20Is for India and scored 42 runs.
Rayudu has also represented Hyderabad, Andhra, Baroda and Vidarbha in domestic cricket.
In 90 matches for CSK, the franchise he joined in 2018, he scored 1,932 runs at an average of 30.18. He scored a century and eight fifties for CSK, with his best score being 100*.
In his 204-match IPL career, he has scored 4,348 runs at an average of 28.23 and a strike rate of 127.24. He scored a century and 22 fifties, with his best score being 100*. He is the 12th highest scorer in league history.
He lifted the IPL trophy a total of six times with MI (2013, 2015 and 2017) and CSK (2018, 2021 and 2023). Due to his immense success as a batsman and the number of trophies he has won is one of the most successful players in the history of the league.
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