I don't think there is a role for Suresh Raina in Indian Cricket: Brad Hogg

India cricketer Suresh Raina has been away from the national team for quite some time now. He last donned the Blue jersey in 2018 during the ODI series between India and England. But a poor show in that series led to him being dropped and has been on the sidelines since then. Rather it was also his comeback series in the 50-over format and failed to impress in the two matches he batted.

The southpaw is still hopeful of returning to the Indian team and will be looking forward to the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) to be played in the UAE. However, former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg thinks Raina is unlikely to make a comeback to the Indian team as Virat Kohli and the team management are favouring the youngsters.

As far as the ODIs are concerned, Hogg reckons Shreyas Iyer has sealed the number four position where Suresh Raina would’ve played. He also feels that the left-hander won’t bat down the order. “But if you look at Indian line-up right now, where Virat Kohli wants to take it, he is looking at youngsters at the moment. And Shreyas Iyer has done reasonably well at no. 4 and that is where Raina is going to bat.

“I don’t see him batting lower down the order. He’s more of the batsman that comes in at no.3 or 4 and bats through the middle overs. I don’t think there is a role for him in Indian cricket,” Hogg said while speaking on his own Youtube channel.

Can Suresh Raina play in T20Is?

However, Brad Hogg is of the opinion that there is a slender chance of Suresh Raina getting an opportunity to play for India in the shortest format. But for that to happen, he will have to set the stage on fire in the IPL this year. Also, India will have to leave out Shikhar Dhawan to accommodate Raina according to the chinaman.

“The only way he could get a chance to make a comeback in T20 cricket is if they continue to open with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma and leave Shikhar Dhawan out, so he may have a slight chance there. But I don’t see Raina playing again and that’s a little disappointing to say,” Hogg further added.