Ambati Rayudu in the middle of things

In a way, Ambati Rayudu's critical innings in the fourth ODI against the West Indies was a reflection of his international career.

Having worn the national jersey for the first time in 2013 at the age of 27, the Guntur man's ride with the Indian team was majorly sluggish to begin with — a stop-start affair, an odd fifty here and there, a maiden hundred after 20 ODIs before he eventually fell out of favour in 2016.

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) gave his static ride a kick, and Rayudu was up and running again. At 32, he returned to the ODI set-up for the Asia Cup held last month and has delivered three half-centuries and a ton in the 10 matches since.

The second half of Rayudu's innings with Team India so far has, thus, been one with more urgency and better returns.

Just like his knock on Monday.

Walking in in the 17th over after the fall of captain Virat Kohli, Rayudu took his time to settle in — as was the need of the hour, in any case.

He huffed and puffed to 20 after 30 balls, got to a run-a-ball at 45 deliveries, and brought up his 50 off 51 balls. Then, it was time for the kick.

Over the next 12 deliveries, Rayudu bludgeoned the first ball of new bowler Marlon Samuels for a maximum, and in the following over, swept and drove left-arm spinner Fabian Allen inside out for a couple of fours.

He raced to 75 off 64 balls, and ran away with his century in 80 balls in a knock that was more valuable in the larger context of the Indian ODI team than Rohit Sharma's exquisite 162.

The common theme between Rayudu's international career and Monday's innings is that of him being a late bloomer.

Yet, he has given early assurances ahead of the World Cup next year that the pieces of India's No. 4 puzzle in ODIs, which would perennially fall apart after the fading away of Yuvraj Singh, is finally falling into place.

"Till the World Cup, there won't be any talk of the No. 4, I guess," Sharma, India's vice-captain, said after the 4th ODI. "Hopefully, we have solved all the mystery of the No. 4 position."

What goes a long way in solving that mystery is Rayudu's ability to change gears once he gets off to a start, a trait quintessential for a successful No. 4 batsman in 50-overs cricket.

Whether it be coming in at 40/2 in Vizag or 101/2 in Mumbai in this series, Rayudu has ensured that he gets the team out of danger first before pressing on the gas.

"I think he batted brilliantly, because at that point, a big partnership was needed," Sharma said of Rayudu's innings in Mumbai.

"So, it was a pressure innings. I thought he responded really well to that situation. He batted freely once he got to his fifty, and started playing his shots," he added.

Reading situations well is a trait the experienced batsman showed in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings this year, then emulating it for India as well so far.

"He reads the game really well, so we are happy that someone with intelligence is batting at No. 4," Kohli said at the presentation ceremony on Monday.

Focus On Away Form

However, it won't necessarily be a smooth ride for Rayudu leading into the World Cup in England.

Two of his three ODI centuries have come at home, while he didn't quite set the stage on fire when he played in England and Australia during his first phase as India cricketer.

Since his return, he has only played in the sub-continent, which means India's next two ODI series against Australia and New Zealand in their den will be a litmus test for Rayudu to replicate his promise as India's No. 4 during the mega world event.

Not just form, he'll have to keep a check on his fitness too, for who can forget him being dropped from India's ODI squad for the England tour earlier this year due to his failure to meet the standard of the yo-yo test.

But the Indian think-tank is banking on Rayudu to overcome these challenges, given how the late bloomer has blossomed in his second stint as a Man in Blue.

"We have known Rayudu for a long time, and he can produce innings like the one he did today (Monday)," Sharma said. "That's probably the reason we got him at No. 4, and he has not disappointed. Whatever opportunities he has got since Asia Cup and now in this series, he has grabbed it with both hands."