India vs West Indies: Ambati Rayudu Says 'Not Under Pressure' At Number Four Slot

The Indian team management has been looking to sort out the number four conundrum in the batting order for quite a while now. A search that started on the tour of Sri Lanka in 2017, finally seems to be coming to an end as Ambati Rayudu (out of the seven batsmen tried at the position) has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Skipper Virat Kohli too backed the 33-year-old as the ideal choice for the slot ahead of the start of the series against the Windies. Talking about the expectations of the team, Rayudu, in the pre-match conference on Tuesday, said that the responsibility in the middle order does not "pressurise" him at all. "I don't think it is new for me as I have been batting in the middle order for long. There is nothing new that they have asked me to do," Rayudu said. 

Speaking on the his role in the World Cup 2019, Rayudu said that he preferred to stay in the present.

"To be very honest, I am just focused on this series at the moment and not really thinking too far ahead," he added. 

Rayudu was dropped from the Indian ODI squad headed for England earlier this year after failing the mandatory yo-yo test, but has since made it clear that he has nothing against strict fitness benchmark.

"I have been working on my fitness right from my injury. I don't think yo-yo test had any bearing on how I was preparing or how I was going about my fitness. Even now I am going to the NCA, there is a small pocket of free time for a week and I am happy that I cleared the test. 

"I think even before the IPL, it's not that I was not in contention. It's just that I had few injuries. IPL was good platform to come back strong, especially on my fitness." 

In the two Tests as well as the only ODI played so far, the West Indies bowling attack was not able to challenge the Indian batting enough, something that has so far deprived the home team of a chance to test its middle-order ahead of the 2019 showpiece event. Asked about it, Rayudu did not read much into it.  

"Obviously it's great that top three are doing so well for India. It's a challenge for the middle order to always be ready to get in and bat. I am sure everybody is up for it, everybody knows the situation."

"It's just one game (the first ODI in Guwahati), I think they bowled really well and it's just that Virat and Rohit batted brilliantly. They will pose a good challenge in the coming games. 

"Kohli and Sharma slammed big hundreds as India, chasing 323, cantered to an eight-wicket win with almost eight overs to spare in the series-opener. 

(With PTI Inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team Ambati Rayudu Virat Kohli India vs West Indies 2018 Cricket India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI