Promoted to No. 4 in this series, Suresh Raina failed to make the most of the opportunity in first T20I in Pune
Suresh Raina has always believed in playing positive cricket even before he was taking baby steps in international cricket. That attitude won him many admirers and eventually earned him an India cap more than a decade ago.
Even in difficult situations, he isn't afraid to swing his bat. And that's why he has flourished in the shortest version of the game, especially in the Indian Premier League.
Into his 12th year of international cricket, Raina hasn't change his game a bit. His strength remains the shots on the on side that he help him get most of runs.
The Uttar Pradesh left-hander, who was a member of the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup triumphs, will once again hold India's fortunes in regaining the World T20 crown.
Before the opening T20 tie against Sri lanka, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had clearly stated that Raina will be his man at No.4 in the Indian conditions.
"It did cross our minds (to use Raina at No. 3) but it will be slightly better if he (Raina) bats at the position in which he will most likely bat in the World T20," Dhoni had said. "We need to give him that exposure as we are a team that doesn't play many T20s. It's usually one-game a series. This series gives us the opportunity to expose him to No.4 slot for a considerable period of time."
With Dhoni showing faith in Raina to bat at the crucial position, Raina had a wonderful opportunity to prove his captain right in the first T20 on a bowling-friendly Pune wicket on Tuesday.
With two match winning performances in Australia a 41 (1st T20) and 49* (3rd T20), it was likely Raina would repeat the magic on batting-friendly Indian pitches in the absence of Virat Kohli.
However, the hosts Pune surprised all with a green top. While the rookie Sri Lanka seamers had a ball under lights, the Indian batsmen were all at sea. It would be unfair to blame the famed Indian batting that struggled to put bat on ball, especially after having played on flat Australian pitches.
Even as the batsmen fell like nine pins, Raina's stay at the wicket was more glaring. Walking out to bat in the second over Rohit Sharma and Ajinya Rahane were dismissed in the first over, Raina was also found wanting against Lankan seamers.
Raina's welcome ball had more 'oohs' from the audience as he was put into an uncomfortable position by a Kasun Rajitha bouncer. The third was a desperate attempt to put Rajitha over mid-wicket but the ball swung a bit and found the edge en route to third man, who spilled it.
The next few balls were about hits and misses before he got back to Rajitha by pushing a short ball over leg gully from an uncomfortable position and followed it by another swing of the bat that fetched him a six over mid-wicket.
The next eight balls saw Raina collect six runs before he swung Dasun Shanaka to deep square-leg but the fielder spilled a lollypop. It didn't matter, though. Next from the seamer was a peach of a delivery to which Raina had no answer. The length ball pitched on the leg stump and went through the gates to end Raina's 20-ball stay.
If Raina did not capitalise on the two dropped chances and a longer stay, the other batsmen just could not manage that.
A T20 speciallist, Raina will be crucial at No.4 and Dhoni would require him to be there at the crease longer than just slog all the time. With the vast experience and the strokes that he possesses, he definitely has it in him to produce more match-winning performances, be it on any number.
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