Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu announced on Saturday his intention to leave the YSR Congress Party and “stay out of politics for a little while.” Rayudu stated that he would communicate his next step in due course, without providing the cause for his unexpected decision.
“This is to inform everyone that I have decided to quit the YSRCP Party and stay out of politics for a little while. Further action will be conveyed in due course of time,” the ex-cricketer stated in a social media statement.
Rayudu joined the ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh last week after retiring from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following his side Chennai Super Kings’ victory in May 2023.
In the presence of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy, and Rajampeta Lok Sabha member P Mithun Reddy, he was admitted into the party.
“In the presence of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Ambati Tirupati Rayudu joined YSRCP at the CM’s camp office,” YSRCP posted on social media platform X.
Rayudu has represented India in international games and also played in the Indian Premier League, in addition to representing various state cricket bodies. Recently, the former cricketer has been reaching out to the general public through different activities.
Separately, Y S Sharmila, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and founder of the YSR Telangana Party, has joined the Congress. She also declared the merging of her YSR Telangana Congress with the Congress and stated that she would carry out whatever responsibilities were assigned to her.
Sharmila joined the Congress in the presence of party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Other cricketers leaving politics like this
Several high-profile characters from Indian cricket and politics have made the transition from the crease to the campaign trail, with varied degrees of success and durability.
Kapil Dev, the iconic World Cup-winning captain, briefly entered politics in the late 1990s, obtaining a seat in India’s lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha. However, the responsibilities of politics were incompatible with his cricketing commitments, and he resigned after one term.
Saurav Ganguly, a former Indian captain, temporarily joined the BJP in 2006 but departed after a few months owing to alleged conflicts with party leadership. Gautam Gambhir, a Delhi batsman, joined the BJP in 2019 and ran unsuccessfully in the Lok Sabha elections. He later left the party.
