#CWC15: Suresh Raina’s importance to India cannot be ignored

Joy Chakravarty 13:39 21/03/2015
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  • Unsung hero: India's Suresh Raina has been vital to his team in the Cricket World Cup.

    The talk of the cricketing world is India’s mind-boggling turnaround in form this World Cup, and the way they have managed to ramp up their game to record 11 straight victories as they head to Sydney to face co-hosts Australia in the semi-final.

    India have won every match in the World Cup since their three-wicket loss in 2011 to South Africa in the group stage in Nagpur, and inextricably linked to this sensational stretch is Suresh Raina.

    There have been three players who have enjoyed this incredible journey to the full – captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Raina. And yet, the 28-year-old is the only player of the three who was not part of India’s defeat 12 matches ago to South Africa.

    A cursory look at the Raina’s contribution in these 11 matches (box alongside), whether it be with the bat, the ball, or on the field, proves his immense importance in Team Blue.

    And yet, you get the feeling while speaking to fans and fellow journalists, not many people seem to appreciate the significance of his presence in the team.

    A fan I got speaking to in Auckland after his match-saving unbeaten 110 against Zimbabwe, said: “What’s it…his second or third hundred in 300-odd ODI matches (it was his fifth in 213 matches)? If Dhoni persisted with me like that, may be I would be able to do that as well!”

    Another chimed in: “It was a brilliant knock. But Raina is not someone you can depend on. When India are in trouble, you can almost bet that someone like Virat or Dhoni will come and extricate them from that situation. Sadly, you cannot be

    And a journalist, while admitting to be an admirer of Raina, said: “He has his plus points, but there is no doubt he has benefitted from his friendship with Dhoni.”

    The ‘friend of Dhoni’ tag, unfortunately, is something Raina will have to carry for the rest of his life. But if he has benefited from that, Dhoni would probably be the first person to vouch that in Raina, he has a most trusted lieutenant, who would walk into the heaviest crossfire with a smile on his face and a will to do-or-die for his skipper.

    And this World Cup, Raina has appeared as one of the key members of the Indian team. His overall contribution has been far greater than any other individual.

    The fact that Dhoni can trust him to bat at any number depending on the state of the innings, and can thrown the ball to him to bowl a few overs in crunch situations, speaks of his importance. And of course, Raina the fielder has saved more than 50 runs comfortably in this World Cup so far.

    Let’s start with the fielding. Raina has led the way in the remarkable transformation of India’s fielding standard. Ever since his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2005, he has set the standard.

    Even today, there is only one Indian player who can match Raina on the field – Ajinkya Rahane. And that is saying a lot because Dhoni’s men are fielding out of this world right now.

    But Raina on-field contribution doesn’t stop there. He is the first player to run and congratulate any of his team-mate for a good effort, and he constantly encourages bowlers for the entire duration of the match.

    He also leads the changeover of fields at the end of an over, running from one end to another, thus reducing the risk of slow over rate, and a possible fine and ban on his captain.

    The one thing I love most about Raina, is that just like Dhoni, he is extremely aware of what is happening on the field of play. His anticipation makes him the best fielder in the team, but there are other vital tidbits he does that have an enormous impact.

    Like the way he backs up the wicketkeeper and the bowler on whichever kind of throw is directed towards them. Even the gentlest of lobs towards the wicket, and Dhoni can rest assured that Raina would be lurking somewhere behind him in case there is any mistake.

    As for batting, the only reason for Raina’s lack of centuries is because he has constantly batted at No5 or No6 – easily the most difficult position in an ODI line-up. Most of the time, he comes in at a time when there is no time to get his eyes in and build an innings.

    Dhoni put it nicely a few days ago when asked about Raina’s batting, saying he was as selfless as any player can get and his contribution should be judged on the basis of the situation, and not plain statistics.

    “More often than not, you don’t get an opportunity. You get to bat maybe after the 38th, 39th over if your top order is batting well and you have to slog it out, so you play the big shot, you get out, you don’t score too many runs,” added Dhoni.

    “He’s the best that we have got and we need to back him. Because if we don’t back him, the new guy who comes in will say: ‘I don’t want to play shots. I will make 25 runs and go home not out.

    “If you keep emphasising on runs, then a person will start playing for himself. He will say: ‘Why should I play an extra shot and take a risk?”

    While Raina, the Test player, has a lot to prove still, he has earned his status as India’s ‘Mr Dependable’ in the shorter formats.

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