Raina last played in the 50-over format in October 2015 and is making a comeback after two years and 8 months.
'You want someone like an X-factor, like Maxwell, and at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where it's flat and small, so he can have that impact.'
The Rest of India are well and truly on their way of regaining the Irani Cup title after tightening noose on Ranji Trophy champions Rajasthan, at stumps on the second day at the Sawai Man Singh in Jaipur.
Round up of Ranji Trophy quarter-final matches played on Friday.
Hostile spells from pace trio of Rudra Pratap Singh, Pankaj Singh and Umesh Yadav saw Central Zone register a fantastic nine-wicket win over East Zone in a Duleep Trophy quarter-final match which concluded at the Barabati Stadium on Saturday.
Riding on skipper Pinal Shah's valiant half century, Baroda took a slender lead of 26 runs even as 18 wickets fell on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Super League semi-final against Karnataka in Vadodara on Monday. After Murtuja Vahora and Bhargav Bhatt combined to bowl out Karnataka for a paltry 107, Baroda finished the day at 133 for the loss of eight wickets, at the Reliance ground.
The first T20 International between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Sunday was abandoned due to damp patches on the track, with Assam Cricket Association (ACA) groundsmen failing to prevent the rain water from seeping into the covers. The umpires held several inspections but the dampness on the pitch did not allow a single ball to be bowled, much to the disappointment of a strong 35000 crowd at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, which was hosting only its second T20I.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a composed unbeaten 122 to put Delhi in a strong position against Baroda on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match in Vadodara on Tuesday. At stumps, Delhi were 300 for the loss of two wickets.
Sourav Ganguly might have been ruled out from the sole leadership position by Kolkata Knight Riders cricket manager John Buchanan, but his fellow mate Aakash Chopra looks up to the former Indian captain for his vast experience.
Stand-in skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with an unbeaten 88 as Delhi spanked Saurashtra by eight wickets to pocket five points from their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match at home on Friday. Chasing 160, the hosts cruised to 161 for 2 in 32 overs, with Kohli and Mithun Manhas (23) guiding them to victory.
Virat Kohli and seasoned opener Aakash Chopra missed double hundreds but steered Delhi to a mammoth 516 for four against Pakistani's Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited on the rain-curtailed third and penultimate day of the Mohammad Nissar Trophy in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan on Thursday termed the non-selection of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian lineup as "madness". "The non selection of @ashwinravi99 has to be greatest NON selection we have ever witnessed across 4 Tests in the UK !!! 413 Test wickets & 5 Test 100s !!!! #ENGvIND Madness," tweeted Vaughan.
"They are two very good senior international players so (coach) John Buchanan and the team management thought that if they are not going to have the opportunity (to play) it is unfair to keep them around," Bhattacharya was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
Skipper Aakash Chopra led from front with a brilliant 95 to help Delhi beat Services by six wickets and book a berth in the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy tournament in Una on Monday.
The five-day Duleep Trophy cricket final between defending champions North Zone and hosts West Zone promises a no-holds-barred battle between two evenly matched sides at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
All-rounder Yuvraj Singh will lead the Board of Control for Cricket in India's President's XI which will take on the visiting Australian team in the four-day warm-up game in Hyderabad, starting October 2. The BCCI, on Tuesday, also announced an India 'A' squad for the four-day matches against New Zealand 'A', in Chennai. It will be led by Suresh Raina.
Success is a result of hard work. Right? Yes, but players talk of a divine force which decides fate and feel that talent means little unless backed by muqaddar, writes Amrit Mathur.
Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra struck centuries in the second innings to restore dented pride after star-studded Delhi faced the ignominy of following on against unfancied Himachal Pradesh
Three summers ago, I went to Holland to play club cricket. I was less confident than I am now but was ready to do anything to make some money, writes Aakash Chopra.
The ICL is expeceted to lay the cards on the table by revealing the names of the players on Monday.
A host of former Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, are in favour of the country taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in the United Kingdom next month.
A summary of the second day's play in the Ranji Trophy Elite group matches on Monday.
Delhi piled up 337 for two wickets on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group A match against Karnataka.
'Age really does not matter so long as you are fit and in form and scoring runs consistently,' says former India opener Akash Chopra.
Delhi fought back well after a first innings collapse even as their Ranji Trophy Super League match against Himachal Pradesh ended in a draw after an action packed final day in Dharamsala
Opener Gautam Gambhir enhanced his chances of a recall to the Indian Test squad with an unbeaten hundred as Delhi drew their four-day Ranji Trophy Super League tie against Mumbai
A 199-run opening partnership between Aakash Chopra and Shikhar Dhawan tilted the balance decisively in Delhi's favour and the hosts held all the aces against Saurashtra in the four-day Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Roshanara Club ground.
Delhi managed to squeeze a 34-run first innings lead over Rajasthan as 20 wickets fell on the second day.
Parthiv Patel's unbeaten 161 helped Rest of India fightback on day two of the Irani Trophy match against Mumbai.
A half-century by wicketkeeper Vikram Mani saw Tamil Nadu to a healthy 347 against Delhi.
India will argue that they didn't take any undue advantage from the concussion substitute rule.
Mayank Tehlan scored an unbeaten 91 as Delhi rallied from a bad start to post 247 for 5 against Andhra at close on day 1 of the Ranji Trophy match.
Delhi were 61 for three in reply to Saurashtra's first innings of 492 on day 2 of the Ranji Trophy match.
Delhi's 18-year-old speedster Ishan Sharma took five for 35 as Baroda were shot out for 244 in the first innings.
Parthiv Patel revealed that Virat Kohli makes sure that everyone is on their toes while MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma keeps the dressing room really calm.
North Zone beat Sri Lanka A by eight wickets to claim their 17th Duleep Trophy title.
North Zone were 321-2 in the first innings on day 2 of the Duleep Trophy match against Sri Lanka 'A'.
North were 51 for no loss at close on day 1 in the Duleep Trophy final.
Delhi omitted Aakash Chopra, Sarandeep Singh and Rahul Sanghvi from the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament squad.
Delhi were 40 without loss in reply to Mumbai's 551 on day 2 in the Ranji Trophy match.
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