Ambati Rayudu's loss is Suresh Raina's gain as veteran gets selected for England ODIs

Sudhir Gupta 21:49 16/06/2018
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  • All-rounder Suresh Raina replaced Ambati Rayudu in India‘s one-day international squad that will play against England next month after the latter failed to pass the mandatory fitness test.

    Rayudu scored 602 runs in the IPL this season and looked like not only cementing his spot in India’s limited overs middle order but also staking his claim for a shot at the 2019 World Cup.

    However, Rayudu fell short of the 16.1 mark set by the Indian team in the Yo-Yo fitness test. And that has meant another opportunity in ODI cricket for Raina who hasn’t played in the format since October 2015.

    India are scheduled to play the first of three ODIs against England on July 12 at Trent Bridge.

    The Indian management had made it clear that all players need to maintain prescribed fitness levels in order to be selected to the Indian team. Earlier, pacer Mohammed Shami failed to make it to the Test side for the Afghanistan match after failing the fitness test while batsman Ambati Rayudu was left out of the India A side for the tour of England.

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