Mumbai: Ambati Rayudu was show stopper on the fourth day of Irani trophy. He showed some fine stroke making by keeping a price on his wicket. His ability to adjust himself as per the situation was very much visible and the way he was controlling the anxiety of scoring runs quickly was a lesson youngsters should learn from him.

An Intelligent batsman from his under-19 days, Rayudu took the centre stage on Saturday with a splendid 118 runs in which he scored nine fours and four sixes to guide Rest of India to 296 for four in its second innings, to increase its lead to 413, in the Irani Cup match against Mumbai here on Saturday.

Once he arrived at crease after the fall of S Sreesanth, the home team bowlers had no answers to his tight defence. His sizzling off drives and using his feet against the spinners was a treat to watch out. He showed that he has everything to make it to make it big. He batted for nearly four and a half hours and has placed his team well on its way to receive the glittering cup. This century from this 27-year-old batsman was his 14th century in First Class competition and the first in the Irani Cup.

He scored 51 runs in the first innings but got out while increasing the momentum of the innings. But he showed very different batting style in the second innings, this time he was looking very calm and composed throughout his innings. He was avoiding all kind of risks till hs feet started moving well. His defence was very hard to penetrate.

“I wasted my opportunity in first innings by playing a bad shot but I was very determined in this innings and I made sure that I bat till the end of the day’s play. There is plenty of bounce on this wicket and it has started to turn. I had a very quality season and I am very much happy with the way I had moulded my innings till now. I am disappointed I don’t have more centuries to show for, it is 27 half centuries. Hopefully I will be able to increase the centuries in the second half of my career,’’ said Rayudu.

On his move from Hyderabad to Baroda, Rayudu said, "It is not about the move from Hyderabad to Bardoda as such, being with people like Robin Singh and our coach Sanath Kumar, that really helped me grow as a batsman and get my mind right. It is more of that which has helped me."

Ambati Rayudu says that is happy with the way his batting is shaping up but needs to convert the fifties into hundreds.

Asked how this knock would augur for him, with the selectors meeting on Sunday to decide the squad for the Australia series, he said, "I don't know. I haven't actually thought about it. I am just happy with the way I am batting."

By Indian Sports News Network