Indian cricketer Vijay Shankar has finally opened up about the 3D glasses jibe by Ambati Rayudu after the latter was excluded from the Indian team that will play in this year’s World Cup cricket in England and Wales. While Rayudu and Rishabh Pant had faced rejections, Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar were included in the team.
Reacting to his exclusion, Rayudu had written on Twitter, “Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup.”
Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup ??..
— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) April 16, 2019
Rayudu’s 3D jibe was believed to have been made in reference to a statement by MSK Prasad, the chairman of the Indian cricket selection committee. Justifying Shankar’s selection over Rayudu, Prasad had reportedly said, “After the Champions Trophy, we tried quite a few people (at no. 4). We gave a few more chances to Rayudu. What Vijay Shankar brings is three dimensional…He can bat, if the conditions are overcast he can bowl, plus he is a fielder. ”
Speaking on a YouTube channel, hosted by Gaurav Kapoor, Shankar finally broke his silence on Rayudu’s tweet. The Indian middle-order batsman said that he completely understood Rayudu’s frustration on not being picked to represent India in the World Cup but did not think that his tweet was aimed at him.
“I know for the fact that how a cricketer would feel if they are not being picked. I can understand from a player’s point of view. And I know for the fact that he didn’t mean it to me. It was just that he put that tweet for the sake of it. I can understand the situation in which he was. It is fine for any cricketer,” he said.
Shankar is reported to have slightly injured his forearm ahead of India’s warm-up match against New Zealand.