Duleep Trophy 2017: Suresh Raina Impresses For India Green

Hours after Team India head coach Ravi Shastri insisted that the team’s door is not closed for Suresh Raina, the southpaw played an impressive knock in the ongoing Duleep Trophy game between India Red and India Blue in Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

Batting first, India Red posted 383 with Baba Indrajith leading the show with a sublime double hundred. India Red were reeling at 205 for 9 but Indrajith was well supported by Vijay Gohil as the duo added 178 runs for the 10th wicket before the former was dismissed by Manoj Tiwary for 200.

India Green needed a strong start and they were off to a decent start with Samit Gohel and Hanuma Vihari adding 47 runs for the first wicket before Karn Sharma broke the partnership by dismissing the former. Manoj Tiwary failed to score big, managing just 20 but Raina and Vihari batted India Green to a commanding position with 73-run stand.

Captain Raina did not have the best of starts to his innings as he was struck on the helmet by Basil Thampi. However, the stylish left-hander soon found his composure and unleashed his trademark shots. The southpaw did not hesitate in driving the balls and stepping out to hit the spinners as he compiled a matured innings of 52 before being sent back by Vijay Gohil. India Green finished day 2 on a commanding 216 for 3 with Vihari unbeaten on 86 and Deepak Hooda giving him company on 23.

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri has quashed suggestions that the likes of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh would be unable to return to the team. The recent turn of events has made many speculate that it is the end of the road for the veteran batsmen but Shastri has claimed otherwise.

“Any player is eligible for selection if they perform well on the following parameters – fitness, current form and fielding. Fielding is very important if you want to win consistently,” Shastri told India TV.

“I am not involved in selection. The door is not closed on Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. Any player who performs well on these parameters is eligible for selection,” he added.