India vs New Zealand: Suresh Raina's comeback delayed again, ruled out of Mohali ODI too

New Delhi: Limited overs' specialist Suresh Raina's comeback to international cricket has been delayed one again as he has been ruled out of the Sunday's third ODI match between India and New Zealand at Mohali.

Still recovering from a bout of viral fever, the 27-year-old got back in the nets on the eve of second ODI match at Delhi on Thursday, but the Team management decided to give him more time to regain his fitness.

And on Saturday, team sources told PTI that he "is not a part of the squad for the Mohali match. It is a 14-member squad. He has not yet fully recovered from fever."

Besides missing the series opener in Dharamsala, the middle-order batsman also didn't bat in Uttar Pradesh's Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh.

Raina, who had a poor run with the bat in the Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20, has been out the national team for some time.

Before the ICC-sanctioned tournaments, he was left out of the Indian ODI squad for Australia series. He was also not considered for the Zimbabwe series, and also the Twenty20 International series against West Indies in the United States.

But returned to the India fold for the ongoing series, albeit for the first three matches. The MSK Prasad-led national selectors will announced the team for the last two ODI matches.

It seems like viral fever has taken its toll on Raina, but if he manages to get fit in time, chances of him getting pick for the remainder of the series is still bright even though Kedar Jadhav has performed well in his place.