Former India chief selector responds to Ambati Rayudu’s claims about his absence from 2019 World Cup

As 'Voice of Cricket' Harsha Bhogle said, the story of Ambati Rayudu is one of the "strangest stories to be recorded in Indian cricket". The Hyderabad cricketer was sure to make the number No. 4 slot in India's 2019 World Cup squad, but what awaited him was dejection and involvement in the infamous '3D controversy'.

A month before the ODI World Cup, then Indian captain Virat Kohli assured of Rayudu in the playing 11, but when the MSK Prasad-led Indian Cricket Board selection panel announced the 15-member Indian squad, Rayudu had to see all-rounder Vijay Shankar's name in his place.

The 37-year-old took to social media to express his frustration, saying, “Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup”. Rayudu's emotions ran high at that moment and he took the tough decision to retire from all forms of cricket.

Recently, the former Indian middle-order batter opened up about his shocking omission in an interview with TV 9 Telugu. Rayudu revealed that the Indian Cricket Board officials had told him to be prepared for the mega event in 2018. He further said that he had some issues with a member of the selection committee, which might be one of the reasons for his exclusion.

It will never be an individual opinion or decision: MSK Prasad responds to Rayudu's claims

Reacting to Rayudu's claims, then-selector MSK Prasad in an interview said that the decision to leave Rayudu was a collective one.

“All of us know that the selection committee has got five selectors and the captain sitting in the selection committee. Will any single person’s decision be taken or is it a consensus or is it a entire collective decision that would be taken? If an individual can take a decision then you don’t require five selectors. So any decision that is taken only happens with the consensus of the entire selection committee. So it is a collective decision," Prasad said in an interview with timesnownews.com on Thursday.

“In a team, a small difference can happen during a long cricketing season. But that cannot be the reason to carry such small differences here and there to such a big platform like Indian cricket team’s selection. Rayudu got selected for Indian Team for all the previous international games prior to the World Cup. When one doesn’t have differences for those matches then how come any difference will come for World Cup selections? I want to clear the air that the selection process is a complete collective decision but it will never be an individual opinion or decision,” he added.