In 2019, BCCI selectors decided to select Vijay Shankar instead of Ambati Rayudu for the ICC 50-50 World Cup. However, Shankar had to be rested after just three games, due to a toe injury during the tournament. Since then he has never played for the Indian side.
Was Vijay Shankar A 3-Dimensional Player?
Talking the controversy – Cheif Selected MSK Prasad, said when asked about “Why Shankar has been picked Ahead of Ambati Rayudu?” – He answered, “We see Shankar as a 3-dimensional player”. And that particular statement got a lot of attention, especially from Rayudu.
After the tournament started Rayudu has tweeted saying – “Just ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup.”
Since then, the tag 3D has been hanging around to Shankar and he recently expressed how badly it frustrates him and said – “I have no connection to that. They gave me a tag randomly and made it viral. But after that tweet, I played three games for India (World Cup) and did decently. I didn’t do anything bad. Even in the IPL, my batting orders have been different. A lot of people compare me to Rayudu, but the batting orders and conditions we play in are different.”
And Also added – “It’s okay to even compare, but at least see which slots we’re batting in. A lot of people don’t know that. They don’t see that, and they just want to enjoy in social media at my expense,”
Shankar has also cleared rumours and said he has no grudges on Rayudu- “We talk well when we meet. There’s no personal issue between us. It just so happened that his tweet became viral. I definitely don’t have any grudge against Rayudu. Even when I met him recently in Delhi, we had a super conversation,”