New Delhi: India’s veteran batsman Suresh Raina was Thursday ruled out of the opening One Day International (ODI) match against New Zealand in Dharamsala with a viral infection.
The 29-year-old had been expected to play in Sunday’s opening match after being named in the 15-member squad for the first three ODIs against the visitors.
There will be no replacement for Raina “who is recovering from a bout of viral fever”, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
The left-hander, who last played in October 2015, was overlooked for India’s one-day series against Australia at the start of the year and against Zimbabwe in June.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni returns to lead the ODI team in the five-match series after the hosts whitewashed the Black Caps in the three Tests that concluded Tuesday in Indore.
The Dharamsala ODI will be followed by the second match at the Ferozshah Kotla in New Delhi on October 20 while the third and fourth matches will be played respectively at Mohali (October 23) and Ranchi (October 26).
The final match will be hosted at Vizag on October 29.
— AFP
