Outgoing India chief selector MSK Prasad reflected upon the contentious call to sack middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu from the 50-over World Cup squad last year following sudden emergence of all-rounder Vijay Shankar in the mix. 

Prasad had justified the decision saying Shankar offers the team greater balance with his "three-dimensional" ability, for which Rayudu had controversially taken to the social media and had a jibe at him. 

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Days later, Rayudu announced his premature retirement from professional cricket, that was thankfully revoked just prior to the start of the ongoing domestic season. But the whole issue dented the relationship between the veteran batsman and Prasad, which the latter feels is extremely unfortunate. 

"I felt seriously for Rayudu," Prasad told Sportstar. "I can clearly say that. It was a very touch and go issue. Our committee always felt that he should be on the radar of Test selection after the 2016 Zimbabwe tour. And, I spoke to him as to why he was not focussing on Test cricket."

"If you remember, based on the IPL performances, we picked him for ODIs, which may not look appropriate to many. Then, we focussed on his fitness for one month at the NCA, helped him there. He has delivered to an extent."

Rayudu is taking the field for Hyderabad this season with a "dual mission", as he earlier revealed. "I play my brand of cricket and don’t care what others say. Once I keep performing I should be on the radar (of Indian team selection)," the 33-year-old had told Sportstar. 

"I am on a dual mission: go out there and express myself and groom young talent. It was certainly a difficult phase in my career when I announced my retirement. But, now I have come out of it. Fully committed. What happened is past."

He is also aiming to be in fine form for Chennai Super Kings during this year's edition of the IPL. "I retired only for 45 days (at the time) and I don’t think there can be any big change in my game," he said. 

"It has been a 17-year-long journey in first-class cricket and having played the IPL for 10 seasons and for the country, I have taken the longest route to be where I am. I play on my own terms and will play as long as I feel I can."

(Inputs from Sportstar)