The Indian cricket team is currently gearing up for the third Test against Australia and on Monday, the selection panel led by MSK Prasad announced the T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming series. Soon after the Test series, they will lock horns against Australia in the three-match ODI series after which the Men in Blue will travel to New Zealand for five ODIs and three T20 Internationals.
A marquee name in the T20I line-up which has hogged the limelight is of MS Dhoni who was dropped earlier from the Windies and Australia series. He is the vet the team and will play a crucial role in the World Cup despite the fact that he’s struggling alarmingly with the bat. Meanwhile, the Indian fans are missing Suresh Raina from the shortest format and are demanding for his return.
The T20I squad also has the players who will play the World Cup in England in May-July next year. Only a few format specialists have made it to the line-up but Suresh Raina has been excluded. He has gone out of favor once again after returning to the set-up post his century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy earlier this year.
ALSO READ: India’s T20 and ODI Squads Announced
Raina was also the part of the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka which India won famously and had fared decently as well. Moreover, the flamboyant left-hander had a chance to resurrect his ODI career as he was included in the team for England tour after Ambati Rayudu failed to clear the yo-yo test.
However, Raina couldn’t make the most of the opportunity and was left out of both the teams, unfortunately. He last featured for the country in July in England and with age, not on his side, it looks like now it will be very difficult for him to make a comeback in the national squad. Having said that, the Raina can still make a comeback in the T20I side with KL Rahul struggling at number three ahead of the T20 World Cup in 2020 which will be played in Australia.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Miss u Raina pic.twitter.com/9XdhqXNO5U
— RAINA SHIVA 🇮🇳🏏 (@Shivaprasad5351) December 24, 2018
Rahul 😂😂😂😂 Raina ko select kro Varna Ind harega
— Aary Joshi (@aary_joshi03) December 24, 2018
No Raina no cricket @ImRaina
— Srikanthraina (@Srikanthraina4) December 24, 2018
Miss you @ImRaina 😔😏
— Vimal Raina (@ImVimalRaina3) December 24, 2018
@ImRaina is where?
— Manoj Kumar (@Kanozia721) December 24, 2018
Suresh Raina career officially over or what ? He is not playing Ranji as well . Sad he didn't care abt cricket much after 2015 just at 28years
— ᎡᏆᎠᎬᎡ ᏚᏆNᏩᎻ *ZERO DAY* (@SRKrider1) December 24, 2018
Where is Raina?
— Yellow Indian (@kettapaiyen) December 24, 2018
Missing Suresh raina ♥️♥️ ♥️
— Kalyan lucky (@KalyanG58106183) December 24, 2018
Raina should be for kl rahul
— Md Sohel Ahmed (@MdSohel64039423) December 24, 2018
Raina ko team me lo vo domestic me bhi accha performance kar raha he
— Ashu Meena (@ImMeena19) December 24, 2018
Where's suresh raina??? What the hell. No chance for him???? My god he is best suited for the limited overs #sureshraina
— Rishiram (@ImRishi_r) December 24, 2018
Where is #SureshRaina😐😐
remove kl Raul and promote #Raina— KranthiPawanism (@Kranthi31150200) December 24, 2018
Suresh raina ko kyun nahi liya
— Ashu Meena (@ImMeena19) December 24, 2018
Enough is enough. Rahul is struggling for runs, why don't you get Raina or Gill into that team.
— Yash Talreja (@itsyash_09) December 24, 2018
