JOIN USIndia's ODI specialist Ambati Rayudu has announced his retirement from first-class cricket to focus on one-dayers and T20s.
The 33-year-old Rayudu is one of the key members of the Indian ODI side but has never played Test cricket.
"This is to inform that Ambati Rayudu, Hyderabad captain and member of the India ODI team, has decided to retire from the longer version of the game including Ranji Trophy to focus on limited overs cricket and T20 cricket," Hyderabad Cricket Association said in a release.
"He will continue to play international and domestic matches of shorter version. He has thanked BCCI, Hyderabad Cricket Association, Andhra Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Vidharbha Cricket Association," the release further stated.
Rayudu, who recently made a comeback in the Indian team by virtue of a successful IPL for Chennai Super Kings, is being seen as India's number four batsman going into the ODI World Cup in England.
He had a productive ODI series against West Indies, scoring 217 runs with a hundred and a half-century, prompting both skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri to single him out for special praise.
In his 17-year-long first-class career, Rayudu scored 6151 runs from 97 games at an average of 45.56. He has 16 centuries with a highest of 210.