Shane Watson feels that “it was a loss for the Indian one-day team” that they did not select Ambati Rayudu for the 2019 World Cup, saying after the middle order hitter’s match-change innings for Chennai Super Kings against the Mumbai Indians in 2020. IPL starter who was “amazing” the way he countered Jasprit Bumrah in Abu Dhabi.
“Rayudu hit absolutely beautifully for his 71 (on 48 balls),” Watson said in a talk during his Superstars T20 podcast. “He is an incredibly talented hitter and I think it was a loss for the one-day team from India by not picking him to the 2019 World Cup squad.
“To be able to beat Jasprit Bumrah like he did was incredible. He has scoring options on all sides. And he has a good point to prove against his old Mumbai team as well.”
Rayudu went 6-for-2 after two overs in the Super Kings chase of the 162-for-9 from Mumbai. He then made 115 runs with Faf du Plessis for the third wicket to put his team on the doorstep of victory, and the South African stayed until the end to finish 58 unbeaten. But it wasn’t just Rayudu and du Plessis. As Watson noted, new recruits Piyush Chawla and Sam Curran also played big hands: Chawla finished 1-for-21 in four overs, while Curran went 1-for-28 before breaking a crucial 18-out of six balls upon death.
“Piyush Chawla pitched incredibly well, landing the crucial window of Rohit Sharma,” Watson said. “[His] 1 of 21 in four overs is an incredible start. Additionally, Sam Curran ran 28 runs on his spell and landed Quinton de Kock’s key window. And then his cameo at the end, coming in when we needed a little boost in running speed – 18 of six balls, what a start for him! “
Du Plessis’s hand was crucial as it allowed Rayudu to play the way he wanted, freely. “Faf and his anchor from our posts [was important]. 163 is not a huge total, but for him to anchor the innings was really crucial, “said Watson.
The Super Kings will face the Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah on Tuesday, and would expect to do it two for two against a team that will lose one of their fans, Jos Buttler, with a bit of uncertainty surrounding Ben Stokes and Steven. Smith too. .
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