The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 16-man squad for the Asia Cup 2018. The selectors have rested skipper Virat Kohli looking at India’s future tours. He also survived an injury scare during the second Test match against England at Lord’s and deserved a rest ahead of Australia tour. However, another major exclusion from the team was of left-handed batsman, Suresh Raina.
The southpaw was lucky to get an ODI call-up for the first time since December 2015 after Ambati Rayudu failed to clear the fitness test. He endured a decent T20I series against Ireland but the 50-overs leg of England tour didn’t go as planned for him. He batted in two matches during the three-game rubber and could manage to score just 47 runs at a poor strike-rate of 70.15.
For Raina, this was the last chance it seems ahead of the World Cup next year. Rayudu and Manish Pandey both are back in the side after some consistent performances for India A in the Quadrangular series. Even Kedar Jadhav has been recalled to the side as he proved his fitness.
Fans on Twitter were disappointed with Raina’s exclusion and felt bad for Uttar Pradesh lad who has immense experience of a whopping 226 ODIs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Suresh Raina’s exclusion:
No Raina , No Yuvi No Asia Cup
— Rahul(Fan Account) (@RahulM45_) September 1, 2018
Virat Rested And Rohit Captain It's Ok
Rayudu Selected It's Ok
But Why Raina Drop From Squad and Manish Select
Why Why— Niranjan BiswalDhoni (@niradhoni) September 1, 2018
Good to see kedar is back
But no raina 🙁🙁🙁— Jitzmsdian03 (@jitzvijan03) September 1, 2018
Dear Team Management,@BCCI @RaviShastriOfc @ImRo45
Why U Drop @ImRaina & Selected @im_manishpandey
It's Wrost Selection By Selection Committee@cricketaakash Sir
Is This Best Team For Asia Cup????— Niranjan BiswalDhoni (@niradhoni) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/WebbO27165851/status/1035798367605911553
sir 100% Raina is better then rayudu,pandey , kedar, …sure these three guys are definitly fail in asip cup…
— suresh uppu (@suresh_uppu) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Im_rainafann/status/1035796224366993408
We want @ImRaina in squad
— Arun RAINA (@arunAK1505) September 1, 2018
we want @ImRaina
— Rahulraja@ (@Rahulrat1412) September 1, 2018
@ImRaina kaha gaya
Nahi dekhna match ab— @Fardeen03💪😎 (@Fardeen_003) September 1, 2018
We Miss you @ImRaina 😭😭😭😭
Sadness at its Peak— Vimal Raina (@ImVimalRaina3) September 1, 2018
No place for Raina 😒
— mithun (@Joseph88257) September 1, 2018
We Miss you @ImRaina 😭😭😭😭
Sadness at its Peak— Vimal Raina (@ImVimalRaina3) September 1, 2018
This hurts more than a break up… Probably the saddest thing today .. it's ok we all believe in you @ImRaina 🙂 .. make a comeback
— KUNAL.🇮🇳 (@ImKPL48) September 1, 2018
No @ImRaina for Asia cup ….😢😢😢 we are feeling so sad….. @ImRaina pls come to India team… We all waiting world cup 2019….to see u there…
😢😜😜😢— Hariharasudhan Rajalingam (@officialSuDhA) September 1, 2018
