With the emergence of young talents like KL Rahul, Manish Pandey and Karun Nair, Suresh Raina who is going through a lean patch, finds himself in a situation where he has to resurrect his career
The Indian team management will expect Suresh Raina to play his usual role in the ODI series vs New Zealand. Pic/Atul Kamble
For the first time, the 29-year-old Suresh Raina finds his ODI career at a crossroad. With the emergence of young talents like KL Rahul, Manish Pandey and Karun Nair, the mercurial southpaw, going through a lean patch, finds himself in a situation where he has to resurrect his career after being ignored for the ODI series against Zimbabwe and the T20 matches against West Indies in Florida. He has got the opportunity to do so when India take on New Zealand in the five-match ODI series, beginning in Dharamshala on October 16.
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Raina is the quintessential team man. We often see him run up to a fielder or a bowler to pat his back for a good effort. Even when the chips are down, he is seen trying to lift the spirits of his teammates. He is also a game-changer. He can turn around a match with a brilliant run out, a superlative catch or a swashbuckling knock. He can clobber the ball out of sight when in full flow—the smaller the format of the game the more dangerous he is with the bat. However, due to a string of low scores there is now a question mark over his continued utility to the team's cause.
There is little doubt that there are technical flaws in Raina's batting: he has a problem with short-pitched deliveries, which has virtually closed the doors of Test cricket on him. Besides, he has the tendency to go for strokes before getting his eye in.
However, despite his limitations and lean patch, ODI skipper MS Dhoni has not lost confidence in his ability and has backed his presence in the ODI team. That has given a lifeline to Raina.
'No pressure on me'
"There is no pressure on me as I have always been an integral part of the ODI team. I was only rested when the youngsters were given exposure during the Zimbabwe ODI series. Whether I was rested or dropped (for the Zimbabwe trip), I will strive to cement my place in the Indian team," he said with an air of confidence. "I am confident of my abilities, be it ODIs or T20s. I have been hitting the ball sweetly in the nets and it augurs well for me as India have a long season ahead. We have been doing well in Test matches, now it is time to continue that good work in ODIs too," he added.
Recovers from flu
About his fitness, the UP Ranji Trophy skipper said that he had a bout of flu and thus could not bat in the recent match against Madhya Pradesh in Hyderabad last week, which UP lost by an innings. "It was just a touch of flu. Now I have recovered and am back in the nets. I will soon join the Indian team in Dharamshala for the opening ODI match there.
The Indian team management will be expecting Raina to play his usual role, as a bits-and-pieces player effectively. Dhoni knows how crucial he is to India's cause batting down the order and is always willing to back him despite his flaws and the impish desire to go for his strokes right from the beginning. When it does not come off, India often tend to slip, but on his day he can create magic.
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