Cricketer Ambati Rayudu enters politics, joins YSR Congress Party

Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), putting an end to all speculations. YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy welcomed Rayudu into the party in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy and MP P Mithun Reddy at the camp office. Rayudu had decided to enter politics in April this year and had said that he wanted to serve the people.

Actually, regarding Rayudu, political parties of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were trying to guess which party he would join. In May–June he held a few meetings with Jagan Reddy but maintained silence about his political move. The cricketer, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, finally ended the suspense by joining YSRCP on Thursday. Rayudu can contest Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections or Lok Sabha elections to be held in April-May next year.

Ambati Rayudu now joins a rare category of Indian cricketers like Tiger Pataudi, Kirti Azad, Mohammad Azharuddin, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chetan Chauhan and Gautam Gambhir who have entered politics. He along with CSK owner N Srinivasan's daughter Roopa Gurunath had met Jagan Mohan Reddy in June and showed him the trophy won by CSK in 2023.