Win Projections to be updated soon
Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina and leg-spinner Amit Mishra have failed the fitness and hence, they were not considered for selection in the India ‘A’ squad for the ODI series against New Zealand ‘A’. Both of them are trying hard to make a comeback to the national squad and the selectors were intending to give them a go in the India ‘A’ side but now they will have to try even harder to get fitter.
In the past couple of years, there has been an increased focus on the fitness of the players in the Indian team. Form alone is not the required skill anymore and one has to prove his fitness to make the cut. Most of the players in the team are extremely fit and acrobatic in the field and that’s why team India is sitting at the pole position in both Test and ODI rankings.
BCCI sources told TOI that Raina and Mishra were on the radar for selection in the India ‘A’ squad and the selectors wanted to test them out to take their matters forward but they failed the fitness test despite training in the National Cricket Academy. Mishra had trained for at least 4 months under the watchful eyes of NCA staff and yet failed the test. The selectors were looking at him as a backup for the young leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
Difficult road ahead
Now the road for the national comeback looks extremely tough for the duo. The Indian middle-order has found several capable batsmen and Suresh Raina finding a place there is nearly impossible now. On the other hand, there is a flurry of young spinners that has emerged onto the scene making it difficult for Amit Mishra to make the cut.
India recently thumped Australia 4-1 in the ODI series and will now battle it out in the T20I series post which Virat Kohli and his men will take on New Zealand for 3 ODIs and as many T20Is. There are chances that a similar squad will be picked for the next series as well.
