Journalism of Courage
By the latter half of the 2000s,Ambati Rayudu,still not 25,was already spoken of as a washed-up talent. From one who was touted as a potential India player from the time he was 16,the right-hander from Hyderabad had slipped off the radar into near-oblivion. But even though it seemed like the cricketing world had completely turned its back on Rayudu,a certain Sachin Tendulkar hadnt yet given up on him.
To the extent that Tendulkar personally approached the gifted young batsman and gave him a piece of his mind. An unexpected tete-a-tete that Vijay Paul,Rayudus long-time coach and mentor,believes was the turning-point in his special wards beleaguered career.
He perhaps did listen. For on Monday,Rayudu was picked in an Indian Test squad for the first-time ever. And he will be the only new face in the 17-member party that will travel to South Africa next month.
But things were a lot different back in the summer of 2010. Rayudu had just accepted amnesty from the BCCI and returned to the fold after a controversial,albeit successful,stint in the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Before long,he was roped in by the Mumbai Indians. In Pauls opinion,getting to play under his childhood hero brought a significant attitude change in the child prodigy.
In Sachin,he finally had a role model at close quarters to emulate. That changed everything. From being a flashy stroke-maker,Rayudu learned to adapt his game based on the game situation, adds Paul.
Rayudus innate ability to dominate bowling attacks-even those double his age and size-was something that Paul claims to have determined the first time he laid eyes on the diminitive child,all of seven years,with the doting father at the Gymkhana Grounds in Hyderabad.
What was special about him was his hand-eye co-ordination. He could pick up the length of the ball-from the bowlers hand-earlier than anyone Ive seen and also follow it till as late as possible to adjust for sudden movement. The only other batsman with that much talent at that age I can think of was Azhar (Mohammad Azharuddin), explains Paul.
Pop the bubbly
The announcement of the Test squad for South Africa set off celebrations in both the Rayudu and Paul households. It was a dream after all that both the coach and father Sambasiva Rao had foreseen some two decades ago. And Rao is quick to admit that the wait had been rather frustrating and unexpected.
Its been a long time coming. The first thing coach Paul told me when he saw my son was that he would play for India. We didnt expect to wait 12-13 years for it. There have been some testing times along the way, says the father.
While his batting exploits won him plaudits and rave reviews during his teens,Rayudu soon began making headlines for reasons not pertaining to his cricket. What followed was a spate of irresponsible shots,his attitude being called into question repeatedly and even a bust-up with a Hyderabad teammate. The already unstable Rayudu career now was on rocky terrain as he shifted from Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh and then back to his home base. A period of his career that his coach refers to as the wasted years.
I would hear about his indiscretions in the news and be surprised. He was always an emotional boy and spoke his mind. His decision to move away from Hyderabad and set up base in Baroda was a smart move as it allowed him to solely focus on his cricket, says Paul.
Since moving to Baroda during the 2010-11 season,Rayudu has averaged 55.31 and scored four centuries and 13 half-centuries,eventually leading to his maiden Test squad selection. Here,hes learned to control the inevitable rushes of blood,hasnt minded biding his time and often found bowlers at his mercy. Just like Tendulkar had said.
