Former India cricketer Ambati Raydu explained his decision to take a break from politics, highlighting his commitment to MI Emirates in the second season of UAE’s ILT20 cricket tournament. Rayudu left the political fraternity baffled when he quit the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), just eight days after joining the party.

The Chennai Super Kings star joined YSRCP on December 28, two days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a 45-day sports festival. Rayudu did not reveal the reason for his decision to quit the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party but confirmed he was taking a break from politics and that he would open up about his future course of action sooner than later.

The clarification from Ambati Rayudu came as early as Sunday as the cricketer said that he wanted to be politically non-affiliated while playing professional sport and representing a franchise like the Mumbai Indians.

“I Ambati Rayudu will be representing the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming ILt20 from jan 20th in Dubai. Which requires me to be politically non affiliated whilst playing professional sport,” he said in a post on social media.

The second season of ILT20 will see Ambati Rayudu returning to the Mumbai Indians franchise for the first time since leaving the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2017. ILT20 will be played from January 19 to February 17 across 3 venues in the UAE – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Rayudu forged a successful association with Chennai Super Kings since the 2018 season, having been part of their side in 3 title-winning campaigns. In fact, Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja shared the podium with MS Dhoni when CSK lifted the IPL 2023 trophy in Ahmedabad.

Rayudu announced his retirement from the IPL after the victorious run and hinted about his intentions to join politics.

Notably, Rayudu had made a U-turn about his decision to retire from the IPL. In 2022, toward the end of the IPL season, Rayudu announced his retirement on social media, but deleted the post soon after. Rayudu continued to play for CSK in IPL 2023.