Former CSK star Ambati Rayudu joins YSRCP in presence of Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy

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Ambati Rayudu made his second innings after retiring from cricket officially by joining Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's party Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) on Thursday, December 28.

The former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) joined the party in the presence of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at CM office in Vijayawada. Rayudu and Reddy shared a warm hug as they posed together for the camera with beaming smiles on their faces.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Narayana Swamy also welcomed Ambati Rayudu to the party. A video of the event was shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of YSRCP.

"Famous Indian cricketer Ambati Tirupati Rayudu joined the YSR Congress Party in the presence of Chief Minister Shri YS Jagan at the CM Camp office. Deputy CM Narayana Swamy and MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy participated in this program," the tweet by YSRCP read.

Ambati Rayudu retired from IPL after winning the title with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2023 season. The 38-year-old, who represented Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad in domestic cricket, retired from international cricket back in 2019 after World Cup snub.

Almost a month after announcing his retirement from the IPL, Rayudu had expressed his intention to join politics. He visited every nook and corner of his native Guntur district “to understand the issues confronting the people at the grassroots level".

"I shall soon enter politics in Andhra Pradesh to serve the people. Before that, I have decided to visit different parts of the district to know the people’s pulse and understand their problems," he had said while speaking to reporters during his visit to Mutluru village in June this year.

However, the former right-hand batter had denied the speculations that he was contemplating contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from either Guntur or Machilipatnam parliamentary constituency.