The curious case of Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina

Mohali: Pakistan's Younis Khan has recovered quickly from dengue and on comeback, has already hit a century against the West Indies in the second Test in Abu Dhabi. On the other hand, Suresh Raina, who had a mild bout of viral fever is still out of the Indian team despite being picked to play the first three ODIs against New Zealand.

The BCCI has just not been forthcoming on Raina's condition after he seemed to have recovered sufficiently as was seen when he batted for 45 minutes in the optional nets session in Delhi two days before the ODI. The following day came the BCCI handout which said that Raina had still not recovered from bout of viral fever.

It is understood that the UP southpaw was all set to take the flight for the first game in Dharamsala. But the BCCI medical team apparently felt he had not recovered enough for the first game.

He was asked to join the team in Delhi, which he did and was part of the nets session.

But he was missing on the match-eve training session and BCCI was very specific in mentioning that he was not part of the team for the Delhi match. "The team has only 14 members," said a BCCI press note.

When the Indian team arrived in Mohali, again Raina was missing, not having travelled for the third game too. But there was no communication from the BCCI. It was only at the pre-match press conference that the media was informed that Raina was not part of the team, "which has only 14 members."

Strangely the team management did not ask for any replacement and waited for a medical report from match to match for Raina to get well. On the tour of Australia before the 2015 World Cup, the Indian team was carrying a few injured players, who continued to be part of the team till the squad for the World Cup was announced.

Now Raina's fate will be decided after the third ODI, when the selectors will name the team for the last two ODIs. Hopefully, the BCCI will lift the veil on this strange episode while announcing the team.