Suresh Raina's Domestic Performance Was Not Upto The Mark: MSK Prasad

Former Indian chairman of selectors MSK Prasad has expressed great disappointment at out of favor batsman Suresh Raina’s recent comments regarding his selection panel’s role in handling the comebacks of senior players.

Raina, who has featured in 226 ODIs, 78 T20Is and 18 Tests for India since making his debut in July 2005, hasn’t played a game for the national side since the 2018 tour of England.

Recently, Raina in an interview with Sports Tak had lambasted the MSK Prasad-led selection committee where he said that the selectors should have taken more responsibility towards senior players. He had also alluded to the lack of communication between him and the selectors.

“I think selectors should have taken more responsibility towards the senior players. Tell me, if I have any deficiency then I will work hard. When the cause is not known, how he will improve,” Suresh Raina said on Sports Tak.

Expressing a great deal of surprise at Raina’s comments, MSK Prasad said that Raina’s performance in domestic cricket was not up to the mark in domestic cricket. He also went on to quote the example of VVS Laxman as to how the former Indian batsman forced his way back into the side after having been dropped in early 2000.

“See VVS Laxman, when he was dropped from the Indian Test squad in 1999, he forced himself back by scoring over 1400 runs in domestic cricket. This is what is expected from senior players when they are dropped,” MSK Prasad told PTI, 

Suresh Raina played 5 games in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season where he racked up 243 runs with the help of two half-centuries but a lean IPL season where he managed just 383 runs in 17 games dashed whatever hopes he had of making it to the World Cup squad.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t see that form here in Raina’s case in domestic cricket while other youngsters emerged at the big stage with their brilliant performances in domestic cricket and India A,” Prasad added.

Also Read: Suresh Raina Slams Selectors As He Rues Not Being Told The Reason Behind His Exclusion

“I had personally explained to Suresh Raina the roadmap of his future comebacks”- MSK Prasad

Prasad seemed very disappointed by Raina’s comment that selectors do not watch Ranji games and alluded to the fact that the had personally spoken to the left-handed batsman where he had told him the roadmap to his future comebacks, something according to the former selector, Raina was pretty impressed with back then.

“It is so sad to hear from him that selectors don’t watch Ranji games. Please check the records with BCCI that how many matches were watched by senior selection committee members in the last four years.”

He added: “I had personally spoken to Raina calling him to my room and explained him the roadmap for his future comebacks. He had, back then, appreciated my efforts. I am really surprised when I have heard things which are exactly contrary to what had happened,”

MSK Prasad, whose tenure recently came to an end, has been pretty vocal in the past few months. The former selector had recently revealed his three biggest regret of his tenure as chairman of the selection committee of the Indian Cricket team.

Also Read: MSK Prasad Lists Three Biggest Regrets Of His Tenure As Chairman Of Selectors