Duleep Trophy 2017 Final: Suresh Raina Flops With The Bat As India Red Takes Command

A couple of days after revealing that he would undergo a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy which raised speculations over his comeback to the national team for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Australia,  Suresh Raina failed to do impress with the bat in the ongoing final of the Duleep Trophy.

The India Blue captain managed to score just 1 before being stumped out off the bowling of Washington Sundar. Raina’s dismissal, nevertheless, firmly put Dinesh Karthik-led India Red on top of the match. India Blue finished day 2 on 181 for 5 in reply to India Red’s mammoth 423. India Blue’s position was even worse when half of the team was back in the pavilion with only 123 runs on the board but opening batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran held firm from one end and along with Jaydev Unadkat helped his team to close the day without suffering any further setback. Abhimanyu was unbeaten on 87 while Unadkat was playing on 27 when umpires called stumps.

Meanwhile, the latest failure from Raina might quash his hopes of returning to the Indian team. At a time, when he is not even in the frame, scoring big in  Duleep Trophy would have done a world of good for him. However, he has managed to score only 93 runs in three innings so far.

Read More  Delhi Capitals Playing 11 vs Rajasthan Royals- IPL 2024, Match 9

Raina, whose last ODI appearance came in October 2015, was recalled for the ODI series against New Zealand last year but did not play a single game due to illness. However, a recall for the T20 series against England earlier this year gave him a glimmer of hope and he fully capitalized on it by finishing the three-match series as its third highest run-scorer with 104 runs.

He was also tipped by many to make it to the team for the Sri Lanka series but was reportedly not considered after  failing the ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test.

An avid cricket lover, I just love this game more than anything. Writing about cricket keeps me closer to the game.