5 reasons why team India is missing Suresh Raina in Australia: Team India currently on a tour to Australia for 5-match ODI and 3-match T20Is are going through very tough time.
Having lost 3 out of the 5 ODIs they have already lost the series. Inspite of having scored 300+ runs in the first two games and 295 runs in the third, with one of the top order batsman knocking a century, they found it difficult to beat the opposition.
The bowling lacked the sting and failed to contain the Australian batters. Indian middle order failed to ‘step on the gas’ in the slog overs. Below par fielding, flooring catches, added fuel to the fire. It is in this scenario that Team India clearly missed the services of Suresh Raina, who has always been instrumental in India winning many games in the shorter format.
Five significant reasons why Raina is being missed:
- Raina – the finisher
Raina is rated as one of the best finishers in the limited over format. He is rated in the same level as Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He does not throw away his wicket but puts a price on it. Coming in at no.4 or 5, Raina does not just hold the lower middle order but also accelerates when needed. He brings that much needed impetus and more importantly can shift gears according to the situation of the games. At the same time Raina puts in his best effort to stay till the end of the innings and ensures a safe finish. Raina and Dhoni have enjoyed stitching partnerships in the past and their coordination in the middle has helped India in the past. With Raina in the middle order, Dhoni would have that extra cushion of taking a few more riskes and play his natural game.
- Raina – Stability and Solidity in the middle-order
Suresh Raina is the guy for the middle overs. He is one who can go for the big shots sending the kookaburra out of the planet, more often than not. He has the ability to hit hard and unsettle the opposition bowlers. Moreover, he paces his innings and brings in a lot of depth and option. With Raina around the score board is always ticking, and at the same time he ensures he plays around the lower middle order. He can cause a lot of carnage in the death overs once set and his strike rate in the last 10 overs would have been crucial in Australia. The current Australian team that has second string bowlers would have suffered big time at Raina’s hands. Raina’s innings would have helped India amass runs close to 350 that would have put the Aussie batsmen under pressure.
- Raina – the fielder
Suresh Raina is one of the best on the field. In addition to scoring with the bat, he also contributes in containing runs with his electrifying fielding. Batsmen normally do not take much risk with Raina hovering around. He covers a vast area on the field and is a very quick mover. He does not miss catches and also converts half-chances into a full one. The fielding expertise of Raina puts the opposition batsmen under pressure and run leaks are clearly plugged. In the current Australia series, the Indian fielding has been abysmal and Raina’s absence has certainly been felt with so many singles being stolen from right under the nose of the India fielders.
- Raina – the bowler
Raina gives the option to MS Dhoni to pack the team with either an extra bowler or a batsman depending upon the pitch condition, since he himself can roll over his arms and provide break-throughs. Dhoni has been observed in the past to look towards Raina when the regular bowlers were finding it tough. Raina’s slow-turners do unsettle the batsmen and break partnerships. Dhoni has repeatedly mentioned in post-match press conferences about the importance of Raina’s overs in the middle. He slides them in quickly, has been a partnership breaker in the past and has also help Dhoni complete his quota of ten overs. Dhoni has been using Rohit and Kohli which has not helped the teams cause in Australia.
- Raina – the complete team man
Suresh Raina is a ‘team man’ to the core. He is a great motivator both while batting and fielding. He keeps on ‘egging’ his batting partner to keep cool and play his natural even under extreme situations. Even on the field Raina is always found encouraging the bowlers and the other fielders and trying to get the best out of them. Raina clearly and positively contributes with the bat, with the ball and on the field. Maybe Team India ODI squad is missing Suresh Raina big time.