Suresh Raina might not have had the best of starts to his International cricketing career, when he got bowled on the very first delivery he ever faced. But since July 30, 2005, his One day International debut, the young lad from Ghaziabad has managed to become part of Team India’s core group for ODI and T20 cricket.
The star studded current Indian batting lineup comprising of the Dhoni’s, Kohli’ s and Yuvraj’s; which many might argue if not as lethal as the Fab Five, still manages to send shivers down any attacking opposition’s spine; atleast in the shorter format of the game.
But Suresh Raina’s name does not seem to feature anywhere in the same league as the others.
Raina, The Future
From being considered India’s Left handed answer to Tendulkar , to being called India’s future by the Former India coach Greg Chappell to finally winning the 2011 Cricket World Cup with Team India . Suresh Raina has done it all.
Even after 8 years of International Cricket under his belt at the age of 26, which consists of 159 One day Internationals, 36 T20s and 17 Test Matches, he is still considered as one of the youngsters in the team.
By Aussie standards, he still would be considered one. (As most cricketers in Australia, start their International careers at the 27, barring a few).
Even after resounding victories as captain, during Dhoni’s absence against a depleted West Indian team in 2011, forget captaincy, even his Vice captaincy never saw light of the day.
Instances like these, show the lack of faith the decision making authorities have had in Raina’s abilities. If you always were planning to promote Virat Kohli as the future India captain, why create the confusion in the cricketer’s mind in the first place.
After all, Raina is only the highest run-getter in the IPL and T20 Cricket for India . Has amassed only 5500 runs and is the only Indian to score centuries in all formats of the game.
Raina, The Team Man
Always the first to congratulate the bowler. Always the first to high five fielding efforts by others and always ready to bat at any positions the team has asked him to, are specimens exemplifying Suresh Raina’s candidature as the real team man.
When the big 3 haven’t clicked for India, which for the past one year has happened way too many times; Raina and Dhoni are the ones holding the team’s mantle.
He might not have a whole lot of centuries like a Sehwag or a Kohli, but what he adds to the team on the field, saving runs with his scintillating fielding or batting lower down the order in difficult circumstances are things that always go unnoticed.
Remember the Straight six off Brett Lee in his crucial innings of 34 in 28 balls in the 2011 Cricket World Cup Quarterfinal against Australia and you would realize the genius of this cricketer.
Raina, The Player
Since being bowled for a duck in his International debut against Sri Lanka at the age of 18, this humble cricketer , hailing from the beautiful valleys of Kashmir has certainly come a long way.
It’s time we no more consider him just an Asset and start considering him as Indian Cricket’s equity.
Let Suresh Raina not be remembered as someone who played for a winning team, but as someone who helped the team win.
This article by the writer has also featured in the Australian magazine The SidelineAgenda
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