Though it seems like Suresh Raina has been around forever, he infact is just 27 years old and every much a vital cog in the Indian side for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Having lost his place in the side for the recently concluded Asia Cup in Bangladesh, there have been some mixed opinions as to whether or not the Indian team needs Suresh Raina at the upcoming T20 World Cup at Bangladesh. And the answer to that question a loud and clear ‘YES’.
Here are some reasons to support the claim as to why India needs Suresh Raina to win their 2nd T20 World Cup title.
1. Experience –
Nothing teaches you better than experience and having played around 195 T20 games, Suresh Raina is one the most experienced players in T20 Cricket in the current roster. With so many teams looking like potential title-contenders this time around, it will take a lot more than just talent to get India through the finish line and that is where experience trumps everything else.
2. Stability in the middle Order –
It looks like Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be the chosen opening pair for India with Virat Kohli the obvious choice at the important #3 position. But between that solid #3 spot of Kohli to the reliable MS Dhoni at #5 or #6 Suresh Raina can very well fill that gap and provide a better balance to the side having already done it in the past.
3. Sub-continent like pitches –
It is no mystery that Raina has a problem with the rising delivery or the one which goes past his shoulders but the World Cup is to be held in Bangladesh. The pitches there are very familiar to those in India and not only will the pitches be a bit on the slower side but they will also be favorable to the type of stroke-play Suresh Raina likes.
4. Bowling option –
Ravichandra Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja seem to be India’s two best spin options at present. But on those slow, turning, dry Bangladesh pitches you’d want to have to luxury of having an extra spin option without really tinkling much with the team composition. Suresh Raina provides that option to M.S Dhoni having already got over 40 wickets in T20 cricket and with an economy of around 7 which is acceptable by T20 standards.
5. T20 records –
Suresh Raina’s record in T20 cricket is almost intangible. He has scored over 5000 runs in T20 cricket, he is the leading run-scorer in IPL history. Having the record of most catches taken in Indian Premier League history also to his name, also shows what a top fielder he is. With games in T20 decided by 1-2 runs at times, the fielding aspect of his game is multiplied furthermore in this shorter format. All this, along with the fact that he has scored over 400 runs in every edition of the 6 IPL’s that have taken place shows how consistent he has been in T20 cricket.
So be it for experience, his T20 track record, his fielding and bowling or just for the fact that he has been a T20 specialist for over half-a-decade now, whatever the reason be, Suresh Raina should and must feature in India’s T20 World Cup side.
