Former India opener Gautam Gambhir Wednesday blasted the MSKPrasad-led senior selection panel after middle-order batsman Ambati Rayududecided to retire from all forms of cricket, saying the five selectors combinedwould not have made the runs Rayudu has scored in his career. Ignored for theongoing ICC World Cup Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of thegame without specifying his reasons for calling it quits in his email to theBoard of Control for Cricket in India. ((ICC World Cup 2019: Full Coverage))“Accordingto me, the selectors have been a complete disappointment this World Cup.Rayudu’s retirement decision is because of them and their decision-makingskills are to be blamed for this,” Gambhir told the official broadcastersduring a ICC World Cup 2019 chat show.

The 33-year-old was in the official standbys list for thebig event in the UK but was ignored despite the injury-forced ouster ofall-rounder Vijay Shankar. Opener Mayank Agrawal was brought in on the teammanagement’s insistence and it is learnt that Rayudu was left quitedisappointed by the turn of events.

Gambhir, who played 58 Tests and 147 ODIs, minced no wordsin targeting the selectors by saying the five selectors combined would not havemade the runs Rayudu had made in his career.

“Five selectors combined would not have made the runs Rayuduhas in his career. I feel extremely sad about this retirement. Rishabh Pant andMayank Agarwal got selected amidst the World Cup injuries, and anyone inRayudu’s place would have felt equally bad,” said Gambhir, who is now a BJP MP.