HYDERABAD: Days before the India squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka was announced, Suresh Raina had seemed excited on social media, expressing his eagerness to join the team. He was not picked. However, India’s loss can turn out to be gain of Hyderabad cricket fans, as Raina with Jayant Yadav and Naman Ojha will add oomph factor to the All India Coromandel King Moin-ud Dowlah Gold Cup tournament to be held from August 22 to 31.
The trio will be a part of the Air India team. “Raina’s, Yadav’s and Ojha’s participation is confirmed,” Air India team manager Manoj Sharma told Express. Officials of organisers Hyderabad Cricket Association, however, did not confirm or deny this. Raina has updated short clips of his training on social media in Kanpur in the last couple of days.
The tournament will see participation of teams from different parts of India, with Hyderabad Cricket Association set to field two teams. HCA XI will be led by international and local lad Ambati Rayudu and President’s XI will have the services of former India pacer Sudip Tyagi. Two more prominent names in national circles — Rising Pune Supergiant’s Rajat Bhatia and former Kolkata Knight Rider player Manvinder Singh Bisla — will also join the Air India squad, according to Sharma.
There are also talks of another India discard, Yuvraj Singh’s inclusion in the Air India team. He had played for them in the 2015 edition of the tournament. “It has not been confirmed yet. But, there is a chance that he (Yuvraj) and Harbhanjan Singh might also join (Air India) in the days to come,” Sharma revealed. Sources in the HCA said that a team representing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will complete the list of 10 teams vying for the trophy.
vishal@newindianexpress.com