Suresh Raina, South Africa Vs India, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18, T20I
India all-rounder Suresh Raina says he is eyeing a return to the national set-up after scoring a hundred in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Middle-order batsman Suresh Raina is all set to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy tie for Uttar Pradesh against Bengal in Bilaspur before leaving for South Africa. This will be only game which he will play before joining the Twenty20 International side.

Raina was released from the Uttar Pradesh’s one-day team after he went to National Cricket Academy (NCA) to work on his fitness before flying out to the Rainbow Nation.

The news was confirmed by Suresh Raina himself who tweeted –

Akshdeep Nath was appointed as the captain of the side in his absence for the domestic List A tournament.

The left-handed batsman Raina made his comeback to the national side after doing well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 competition. He scored 314 runs in the tournament, followed by which he was recalled to the national side.

Thisara Perera, India Vs Sri Lanka, Upul Tharanga, Shikhar Dhawan, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has been impressive while donning national colours. Photo Credit: BCCI.

Surprisingly, Shreyas Iyer was dropped from the side as the team needed an experienced man for the job.

He (Raina) is expected to have straightaway walk in the playing XI. If he plays in the series, then it will be his first international game in a year 2008.

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Suresh Raina, South Africa Vs India, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18, T20I
Suresh Raina has been struggling to maintain fitness in the past. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Raina was dropped from the national team following the home T20I series against England. He couldn’t make a comeback due to poor form and failure in clearing the much-touted Yo-Yo test.

Once he cleared the hyped-test, he was in contention to make a comeback and a performance in the domestic tournament saw him making a comeback to the national team.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh team is all set to play their next four games against Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Tripura. The team has lost both the games they have played till now.

Raina will just be playing one game for Uttar Pradesh. He will be flying to South Africa with KL Rahul and Jaydev Unadkat – both of whom are playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for their respective states.

The three T20Is between India and South Africa will be played on February 18, 21 and 24 respectively.

Presently, both the teams are playing six-match ODI series as Team India is leading by a margin of 3-0.

Follow Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018 here –

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