There is that unmistakable correlation between fitness and fielding, but R Sridhar was around yesterday to put things in perspective. "I wouldn't like to comment on Suresh Raina (exclusion) but once he is through with the fitness parameters I'm sure he will be very much a part of the whole process," Team India's fielding coach said at the media interaction yesterday. With the team management putting a stringent fitness philosophy at the core of their efforts to reach the next level, even top fielders like Raina and Yuvraj Singh find themselves out of favour. "The fitter the player, the better the results are on the field. A stunning diving catch to someone who is not fit may be an easy one for someone who is. Or, running three (successive) threes may be easy for the player who is fit but may it may be a three and two twos for someone who isn't. All these add up in the end," he remarked.

Suresh Raina