Batting in middle-order is not new for me, so no pressure: Rayudu

Anointed as India's number four in the ODI format with the World Cup in mind, Ambati Rayudu Tuesday said the responsibility does not pressurise him at all, as he preferred to stay in the present.

India and West Indies are locked in a five-match ODI series, with the home team leading 1-0 on the eve of the second match here.

"Not really," Rayudu said when asked if he is feeling any pressure three days after skipper Virat Kohli backed him for a position for which the team management has tried as many as seven batsmen since the tour of Sri Lanka in 2017.

The 33-year-old began his first-class career way back in 2001-02 but had to wait till 2013 to make his international debut, against Zimbabwe, aged 28.

The Hyderabad batsman added, "To be very honest, I am just focused on this series at the moment and not really thinking too far ahead.

"I don't think it is new for me as I have been batting in the middle order for long. There is nothing new that they have asked me to do.

Rayudu was dropped from the Indian ODI squad headed for England earlier this year for failing the mandatory yo-yo test, but has since made it clear that he has nothing against strict fitness benchmark.

"I have been working on my fitness right from my injury. I don't think yo-yo test had any bearing on how I was preparing or how I was going about my fitness. Even now I am going to the NCA, there is a small pocket of free time for a week and I am happy that I cleared the test.

"I think even before the IPL, it's not that I was not in contention. It's just that I had few injuries. IPL was good platform to come back strong, especially on my fitness."
"It's just one game (the first ODI in Guwahati), I think they bowled really well and it's just that Virat and Rohit batted brilliantly. They will pose a good challenge in the coming games."