Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Suresh Raina Questions Fitness Standards Behind Kohli-Era India Exile
Suresh Raina talked about why he stopped playing for India during the Kohli era.
He said the main reason was a serious knee injury.
Raina explained that he worked hard at the National Cricket Academy to recover.
He felt that some people judged him without knowing what was happening inside his body.
He said injuries and fitness tests are not always the same thing.
Raina mentioned Virender Sehwag, who played 100 Tests despite being criticized for fitness.
He also referred to VVS Laxman while questioning how different players were judged.
His comments ask whether the same fitness rules were applied fairly to everyone.
Suresh Raina said his absence from India was definitely due to a knee injury at that time.
He said he worked extensively at the National Cricket Academy during his recovery.
Raina questioned whether critics understood the condition of his body before pointing fingers.
He argued that injury-related circumstances and fitness parameters should not be treated identically.
Raina compared the scrutiny he faced with the careers of Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman.
- Who
- Former India cricketer Suresh Raina discussed his India exile and comparisons with Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman.
- What
- Raina questioned whether his exclusion was properly understood, saying it was due to a knee injury and challenging the fitness standards used to judge him.
- Where
- Raina said he worked at the National Cricket Academy during his recovery.
- Why
- He wanted to explain that his knee injury affected his availability and questioned criticism based on fitness parameters.
Raina's Explanation
Fitness-Based Scrutiny
Reason for India Exile
Raina's Explanation
Raina said his absence was definitely caused by his knee injury and that he worked hard on rehabilitation.
Fitness-Based Scrutiny
The criticism referenced by Raina appears to have focused on fitness standards and whether he met the required parameters.
Understanding Injuries
Raina's Explanation
Raina argued that people pointing fingers may not have understood what was happening inside his body.
Fitness-Based Scrutiny
Those questioning his fitness evaluated him through performance or fitness parameters, according to the issue Raina raised.
Consistency of Standards
Raina's Explanation
Raina questioned why certain standards were applied and compared his treatment with players such as Virender Sehwag.
Fitness-Based Scrutiny
The contrasting view implied by the criticism is that established fitness parameters should guide selection decisions.
- Player
- Suresh Raina
- Issue discussed
- Raina's exclusion from India's team during the Kohli era
- Injury
- A knee injury, which Raina said was badly affected
- Recovery work
- Raina said he worked at the National Cricket Academy
- Comparison
- He cited Virender Sehwag's 100-Test career while discussing fitness scrutiny
- Other cricketer mentioned
- VVS Laxman