Once a key member of the Indian cricket team Suresh Raina is out of the national team for a long time. The southpaw when last time seen in blue jersey was in July 2018 against England. Since the appointment of MSK Prasad as chief selector in 2016, Suresh Raina kept getting in and out from the side.
During his tenure as chief selector, Prasad has faced criticism for the ouster of the likes of MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. Recently, during an interview with Sports Tak, Suresh Raina himself criticised MSK Prasad-led selection panel. Raina felt that his experience was not given any value.
Raina told, “I think selectors should have taken more responsibility towards the senior players. Tell me, if I have any deficiency then I will work hard. When the cause is not known, how he will improve,”
MSK Prasad on Suresh Raina
Disappointed with the Suresh’s comment former chairman of selector MSK Prasad revealed the reason which became an obstacle between southpaw’s selection. MSK Prasad said that Raina’s performance in domestic cricket was not up to the mark. He went on to give an example of VVS Laxman when he forced the selectors to bring him back in the side with the help of performance in Ranji Trophy.
Prasad counter-attack Raina’s comment saying, “See VVS Laxman, when he was dropped from the Indian Test squad in 1999, he forced himself back by scoring over 1400 runs in domestic cricket. This is what is expected from senior players when they are dropped,”
Prasad also told that he himself had told Raina what he needed to do to make a comeback in team India. He said, “I had personally spoken to Raina calling him to my room and explained him the roadmap for his future comebacks. He had, back then, appreciated my efforts. I am really surprised when I have heard things which are exactly contrary to what had happened,”