This veteran player replaces Rayadu in India’s ODI squad against England

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Ambati Rayudu has failed to clear the Yo-Yo fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Friday 15 June and has been dropped from the Indian squad for the one-day international series against England in July. He has been replaced by his Chennai Super Kings teammate, Suresh Raina, a veteran of 223 ODIs, whose last 50-over international appearance came in 2015.

Rayudu becomes the latest in a series of Indian players to be dropped after failing fitness tests, with the ‘Yo-Yo’ test in particular. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was excluded from the squad for Afghanistan’s maiden Test following one such failure, while wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson was dropped from the India A squad to tour England.

Rayadu had last played an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2016. In his career of ups and downs, the right hander has played 32 ODIs. He has scored 1055 runs at an impressive average of 50.23 including 2 centuries.

Rayadu had an exceptional IPL this year. He scored a mammoth 602 runs in the 16 games. His contribution was immense in ‘Chennai Super Kings’ clinching the title.

Raina has scored five centuries for India in ODIs and averages 35.46, having made his debut 13 years ago in 2005. He featured in both India’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and their ICC Champions Trophy 2013 victories.

After clearing the fitness test, Raina tweeted that he is all set for an English summer.

Updated squad: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav

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