Indian left-handed batsman Suresh Raina has been ruled out of the first ODI match between India and New Zealand, scheduled for Sunday in Dharamsala. The 29-year-old has been diagnosed with viral fever.
MS Dhoni's men take on the Kiwis in a five-match ODI series that takes place until October 29.
No replacement for Raina has been announced as yet by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however. Raina played his last ODI in October 2015 against South Africa in Mumbai but was then dropped for the ODI series against Australia and then Zimbabwe owing to his lack or runs.
The absence of the southpaw opens up a huge possibility for Mandeep Singh to make his ODI debut for India.
The 24-year-old all rounder impressed in the T20Is against Zimbabwe earlier this year. Mandeep, along with Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma, are a part of the India squad for the ODI series.
