Suresh Raina Remains Very Hopeful Of Making Comeback Into Indian Team

During the chat, Rohit Sharma admitted that there have always been conversations within the team over the inclusion of Raina in the squad owing to his all-round abilities.

Suresh Raina

New Delhi: India's international discard Suresh Raina on Tuesday exuded confidence that he still remains hopeful of making a comeback into the national team as he feels that he still has a lot of reserves in his tank left in him to perform at the international level. Raina made this admission during a live video chat on Instagram with India's limited-overs deputy skipper Rohit Sharma. The 2011 World Cup-winning member of the Indian team last represented the 'Men In Blue' in 2018 tour of England, but a poor outing with the bat saw him axed from the squad. Raina has played for Indian in all three forms of the game, playing 226 ODIs, 78 T20Is along with 18 Tests. "I had an injury and a surgery which was a big reason why I lost my place. I still have a lot of cricket left in me. Selection is not in our hands, performances are. I have always enjoyed my cricket and the big players always backed us when we were young. So that is what we need, someone to support us and show the way," Raina said. During the chat, Rohit Sharma admitted that there have always been conversations within the team over the inclusion of Raina in the squad owing to his all-round abilities. "I feel that we have seen you play for such a long time, somewhere I feel that somehow or the other you should be back in the team. But then we will see, we make do with what we have in our hands." Engaging with each other over MS Dhoni' future in the Indian team, Raina said that Dhoni was batting and keeping wickets well during the practice sessions that Chennai Super Kings held before the pandemic outbreak brought a halt to all cricket activities. "I saw him and he was batting so well, he is fit. Only he knows what he is planning but as far as his skills go he was good. Now that the lockdown is here, I don't really know what his plans are. He has a lot of cricket in him and he was batting so well there," said Raina. "If that is the case, he should play," said Rohit. "I hope he starts playing again."