Ambati Rayudu has retired hurt. To say this is far from the truth is like saying India do not have a chance to win the ongoing World Cup. Yesterday, the middle order batsman announced his retirement from all formats of the game. Rayudu was among the reserves for the World Cup after he failed to make it in the 15-man squad picked by MSK Prasad & Co in April. But despite injuries to Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar, he was not summoned.

Shankar suffered a toe injury recently and was ruled out of the tournament. India's Test batsman Mayank Agarwal was called in as replacement despite Rayudu being rated as a fine No. 4 batsman by no less a figure than skipper Virat Kohli.