Suresh Raina and Amit Mishra fail fitness test, not picked for India A

Suresh Raina and Amit Mishra have failed the fitness test yet again and hence were not picked for the ODI series against New Zealand A. The selectors were all set to try out the duo for the upcoming matches for India A side. But now they would have to go through the grind again to be picked for the second string national team. Both of them are vying hard for their return to the national team and this is a huge jolt for them.

Indian team has raised the bar in terms of fitness in the last few years and the selectors want even the bench strength of the side to be fully fit. Men in Blue won the recently concluded series against Australia by 4-1 and were dominant right through barring the blip in Bengaluru where the lost. However, the team looked in a happy space and there is a possibility that they will field the same team for the ODI series against the Kiwis.

Washington Sundar also failed the test

Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar has also failed to clear the fitness test which has surprised one and all. The 17-year-old Sundar, who holds the record for the best economical bowling figures in an IPL final, is a promising cricketer and is touted as the next big star. He announced his arrival to the domestic cricket with a bang on his Duleep Trophy debut by scoring 88 runs with the bat and 10-wicket haul with the ball.

According to Times of India, the sources of BCCI told that the selectors were ready to test Raina and Mishra during the India A matches against New Zealand A to take their case forward. However, they both failed to pass their fitness test despite training under the watchful eyes of the National Cricket Academy coaching staff. They even informed that Mishra had trained for at least for 4 months inside the NCA complex and yet couldn’t pass the fitness test. The selectors were looking at him as a backup for another leggie, Yuzvendra Chahal, who is taken the international cricket by storm.

Similarly, Raina was in the fray for a comeback and the selectors were looking at the India A matches to check his match fitness level. With Raina too failing the fitness test, it has only delayed his comeback into national reckoning. Now, it also seems unlikely that he would be picked for the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand which will commence on October 22.