I wonder why I'm not in the Indian team, says Praveen Kumar

Seamer Praveen Kumar is a dejected man these days. And in an interview with the Indian Express, the India cricketer minces no words in saying that he feels bad about not being in the India team.

"Sometimes I sit and wonder why I'm not there in the Indian side. It's frustrating to be sidelined. I'm a human being after all," says Praveen.

But then, he's not the one who is willing to give up on hopes of finding his way back to the thick of things. "But that's life," he says. "These moments teach you a lot. It makes you work harder than before."

Praveen was spearheading India's pace attack in the absence of Zaheer Khan in England, and was in the thick of things even till the Asia Cup early this year. Someone who can swing the ball both ways, Praveen was being looked upon as a dependable bowler. But things started dwindling, and the number of injuries didn't do any good either.

"I had a good time the West Indies and England, and then injuries halted my progress," he laments. "(But) Injury is in nobody's hands. When I'm on the field, I always try to give my 200 per cent. And when you do that, you can get injured," explains Praveen.

His injury lay off was coupled with the rise of the fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, with former pretty much cementing his place as Zaheer's new ball partner in Tests. And if losing his place wasn't a pain enough, Praveen was not even considered for the Rest of India squad for the Irani trophy.

"I was hoping to get a call for the New Zealand series, but that didn't happen. I was a bit disappointed not to find a place in the ROI side too," says Praveen to IE, who is "completely fit now". "At the moment I'm looking forward to the Challenger Trophy, as it will be the only competitive cricket for me."