Rayudu replaced by Raina in ODI squad failing fitness test

Ambati Rayudu has failed to clear a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Friday 15 June and as such has been dropped from the India squad for the one-day international series against England in July. He has been replaced by Suresh Raina, a veteran of 223 ODIs, whose last 50-over international appearance came in 2015.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 being one with explicit pass/fail marks. 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.

Rayudu hasn’t represented India since 2016, but has an excellent ODI record, averaging over 50 from 24 games. He was recalled after a prolific Indian Premier League 2018 campaign in which he finished fourth in the run-scorers' charts and helped Chennai Super Kings claim 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.

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