Last Update on: June 17th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
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There is a saying that goes ‘one man’s loss is another man’s gain’ and Suresh Raina would fully agree to it. The left-handed batsman has received a huge chance to revive his ODI career and it has come at Ambati Rayudu’s cost.
Raina has replaced his Chennai Super Kings teammate in the India squad for the ODI series in England after the latter failed to clear the yo yo test. As per reports, Rayudu scored a dismal 14 in the test while qualifying mark is 16.1. Rayudu earned the call from the national selectors after his dazzling displays in the just-concluded Indian Premier League. He played an integral role in Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning run in the IPL this year. Among the top-five run-scorers, this season was the best IPL Rayudu had, scoring 602 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 including one century.
However, his hopes of donning the Indian jersey for the first time since 2016 was dashed because of his poor fitness.
The BCCI confirmed the news through a press release on Saturday.
Raina’s last ODI appearance came way in October 2015. With India’s middle-order far from being settled at the moment, a good outing in England can pretty much cement Raina’s place in the playing eleven.
The left-handed batsman was in good form in this year’s IPL, scoring 445 runs in 15 games with the help of 4 fifties.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings wished both their players on Twitter. While they wished Raina all the best for the England tour, they hoped Rayudu would return to action very soon.
Wishing Chinna Thala @ImRaina all the best in the upcoming UK tour! Hoping to see Baahubali @RayuduAmbati back in action very soon! #whistlepodu ??
Wishing Chinna Thala @ImRaina all the best in the upcoming UK tour! Hoping to see Baahubali @RayuduAmbati back in action very soon! #whistlepodu 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/S82krT3Ti6
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) June 16, 2018
The ODI series will kickstart on July 12 in Nottingham. The ODI series is sandwiched between three T20Is and 5 Tests.
