Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has been appointed as the head of cricket operations for the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The 40-year-old, who previously captained Hyderabad, will begin his three-year term immediately.

Rayudu expressed his excitement on social media, stating, 'I am thrilled to announce that Justice P. Naveen Rao, M. Jeevan Reddy, and the Apex Council have appointed me as the head of cricket operations at HCA.' He aims to streamline certain aspects of the organization and is enthusiastic about the talent pool in the region, emphasizing the potential to develop more players for the Indian team.

Having played 58 ODIs and six T20s for India, Rayudu remarked, 'This is a fantastic opportunity to improve various aspects. I am eager to see the immense talent in Hyderabad and Telangana flourish and witness more players representing the country.'

Rayudu scored 1,694 runs in 50 innings at an average of 47.05 in 55 ODIs, including three centuries and ten half-centuries. He was not selected for the 2019 World Cup, which led to his retirement from international cricket. Although he returned from retirement, he did not play for India again. In T20 internationals, he managed 42 runs in five innings at an average of 10.50 across six matches. He was part of the 2015 World Cup squad but did not play any matches.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rayudu represented the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Over 204 matches and 187 innings, he scored 4,348 runs at an average of 28.23, including one century and 22 half-centuries. He is among the few players who have been part of teams that won the IPL title five times, contributing to three victories with Mumbai Indians and two with Chennai Super Kings.

After retiring, Dinesh Karthik has taken on a new role with RCB. His appointment as batting coach and mentor was inspired by the trust shown by Virat Kohli and the team management.