Image: Shikhar Dhawan's playful jab at Ambati Rayudu over 2004 U19 World Cup goes viral / © NDTV Sports
For the IPL 2025 season, the spotlight isn’t just on thrilling matches but also on the off-field banter between former cricketers. A hilarious moment unfolded during live commentary when Shikhar Dhawan jokingly blamed Ambati Rayudu for India’s 2004 U19 World Cup exit. Speaking with Aakash Chopra, Dhawan recalled how Rayudu, then U19 captain, was banned before the semi-final against Pakistan due to a Code of Conduct breach, an incident Dhawan humorously claimed “cost us the World Cup”. He said:
Ambati Rayudu ka bahut bada naam tha U19 mai. Humare captain the U19 World Cup mei aur waha pe bhi ban hogaye the, humara semi-final mar gaya.
The joke initially caught Rayudu off guard, but eventually led to shared laughter among the panel. Rayudu, now part of the IPL 2025 commentary team, has seen many ups and downs throughout his career — from a BCCI ban during his ICL stint to being controversially left out of India’s 2019 World Cup squad.
On a recent podcast, Rayudu finally addressed the World Cup snub, clarifying he doesn’t hold Virat Kohli responsible and believes the decision was a group call involving Ravi Shastri and selector MSK Prasad. Despite these setbacks, Rayudu continues to be a vocal presence in Indian cricket, recently even supporting RCB on social media during a playful exchange. The Dhawan-Rayudu moment is one of many off-field highlights of this entertaining IPL season.