Suresh Raina...

[cowboysfan]

if Raina n other guy bat well we may not need Dhoni for many overs:dontknow: Dhoni's wasting deliveries n then getting out.Raina will keep it ticking n provide a solid platform where Dhoni can play freely

i think we are going around in circles.my view is based on our batting performance in this world cup and our death batting(or lack of it).we are trying to do much and dont have a a single guy who can hit and hang around in the end(dhoni has not been that guy for some time).we are screwed if Raina comes in early and gets out cheaply.

[Lord]

^He's thrown his wicket away a few times after good starts yes. But SR of 87 man. So hardly a ball waster. In fact he has been a solid accumulator at 3 for us.

hain?who r u talking about?I'm talking of Dhoni in this WC only.no doubting his class

[NareshK]

no dont go there' date='both him n UV r fantastic ODI players but not test matches[/quote'] He actually started his test career with a bang. He was averaging close to 100 if I remember correctly after a few matches. But then, he was found wanting against short pitch bowling and kept expecting a bouncer every ball and got lbw a few times. I think if he can improve his technique, he will do well in tests too.

[veer]

Disagree...he has done it plenty of times before when he has come in at #5. Also why didn't Kohli 'set up' the innings today or for that matter against Australia? The context was ideal for just such an innings. There is a reason why he averages 45 in ODIs...the team has literally bent itself backwards to put him on the pedestal.

kohli is still young, inexperienced and this is a HUGE learning tournament for him.. give him some time.

[youngindia]

i have been trying to hammer this point here. years of experience counts. i have been arguing against putting under 22- yr olds like kohli and jadeja under WC pressure cooker situations for the past one year. For the next wc team , have guys with minumum 4 years experience so that under KO pressure they will prove reliable enough. The under 22 yr olds are work in progress and to put their incomplete cricketing and mental skills under scanner at a WC is not advisable . its not kohli's fault.too much was expected of him too soon.

[Lord]

i think we are going around in circles.my view is based on our batting performance in this world cup and our death batting(or lack of it).we are trying to do much and dont have a a single guy who can hit and hang around in the end(dhoni has not been that guy for some time).we are screwed if Raina comes in early and gets out cheaply.

n we r screwed if Dhoni played tuk tuk cricket,gets out n we lose Raina first ball.we need a guy to hit at the end but Raina himself can do that.now hes only getting 10 overs to show his wares,then he'll get more n be more settled wen the slog overs come that death batting was with Yusuf,Dhoni isnt that bad at it.

[Lord]

i have been trying to hammer this point here. years of experience counts. i have been arguing against putting under 22- yr olds like kohli and jadeja under WC pressure cooker situations for the past one year. For the next wc team , have guys with minumum 4 years experience so that under KO pressure they will prove reliable enough. The under 22 yr olds are work in progress and to put their incomplete cricketing and mental skills under scanner at a WC is not advisable . its not kohli's fault.too much was expected of him too soon.

Kohli has been good.handled pressure in the field.just 2 bad innings

[vvvslaxman]

Raina and Viru were two of the best in handling the nerves today. Even Sachin was in two minds whether to attack or defend after couple of wickets. Gauti was good as he lasted. But his very strength did him in.

[daryl1985]

Great thread Raina played a really mature innings today and kept his head when wickets were falling around him. I was worried that he was going to go for one big shot too many but he realised the importance of his wicket and played a fairly risk free innings. He is so composed and cool under pressure, it was an invaluable knock. It would be really great if Raina could try and work on his bowling because we may need it should Yuvraj or any of the other bowlers have an off day.

[youngindia]

Kohli has been good.handled pressure in the field.just 2 bad innings

its not a question of "good"...its question of maturity levels Its because of the seniors like sachin and yuvraj, we won the last 2 matches.this is the right expectation. kohli does not have the maturity to play a bigger role currently inthese big matches.he may do it in four years time.but inall the big matches in the WC, he has failed. right now, if he scores a solid 50, he has done his job and anything more is a bonus.that would be the right expectation.

[Lord]

its not a question of "good"...its question of maturity levels Its because of the seniors like sachin and yuvraj, we won the last 2 matches.this is the right expectation. kohli does not have the maturity to play a bigger role currently inthese big matches.he may do it in four years time.but inall the big matches in the WC, he has failed. right now, if he scores a solid 50, he has done his job and anything more is a bonus.that would be the right expectation.

nerves can get to anybody man,look at Younis Khan,normally so cool. ofcourse a 50 is all we expect from every bat except Sachin.else is bonus.I have a feeling Kohli will fire on April 2.

[Misu243]

All Hail Suresh Raina Team India's FINISHER, T20 ENCOUNTER SPECIALIST deserves his own thread. First the chase against Australia now takes India past 260!! :sherlock:

[Moncy]

[goose]

executes his skills under pressure. Raina over Pathan every time.

[youngindia]

you have problems understanding some basic stuff..younger players lack maturity in skills,mental and other aspects of cricket that will prevent them from playing the bigger knocks like seniors or make such a knock unlikely. the probability that a senior player will score a hundred is prettymuch possible while for kohli, its extremely slim. our victories will depend heavily on sachin,sehwag,yuvraj,gambhir and zaheer. that's how it will be.

[Lord]

you have problems understanding some basic stuff..younger players lack maturity in skills,mental and other aspects of cricket that will prevent them from playing the bigger knocks like seniors or make such a knock unlikely. the probability that a senior player will score a hundred is prettymuch possible while for kohli, its extremely slim. our victories will depend heavily on sachin,sehwag,yuvraj,gambhir and zaheer. that's how it will be.

its not slim at all.he has every chance like others to get a ton.

[riwi999]

Raina was indeed the difference today between 220 and 260. What a nugget of an innings! And he did the same in the previous knock-out game too. I totally agree that Raina should come in above Dhoni. The only reason I can think of why Dhoni comes in ahead of Raina is to have a left-right combination if Yuvi's at the other end. Today even that was not the case, but Dhoni still came in ahead of Raina! That too in Dhoni's current pathetic form! Either Dhoni steps up and bats more freely or he should allow Raina to come in before him. Simple as that. It just does not feel right that Dhoni potters around for 25-30 deliveries with an SR of 60-65, while Raina has to make the most of the few deliveries he gets.

[youngindia]

its not slim at all.he has every chance like others to get a ton.

keep living in your wonderland then. in the real world, it works differently. youngsters do not have the maturity or skill levels to come to the party in big matches. its extremely slim- under 2% i have nothing more to say.check the past records of all big WC matches in the past. seniors will make or break these important matches.

[Little_Master]

Superb innings by Raina. :hatsoff:

[daryl1985]

Raina was indeed the difference today between 220 and 260. What a nugget of an innings! And he did the same in the previous knock-out game too. I totally agree that Raina should come in above Dhoni. The only reason I can think of why Dhoni comes in ahead of Raina is to have a left-right combination if Yuvi's at the other end. Today even that was not the case, but Dhoni still came in ahead of Raina! That too in Dhoni's current pathetic form! Either Dhoni steps up and bats more freely or he should allow Raina to come in before him. Simple as that. It just does not feel right that Dhoni potters around for 25-30 deliveries with an SR of 60-65, while Raina has to make the most of the few deliveries he gets.

Dhoni has always messed around with Raina's position and promoted himself ahead of him. In the T20 WC in 2009 Raina was our number 3 but Dhoni promoted himself in the matches against Ireland and Bangladesh but sent Raina in at 3 in the matches with Windies and England. I don't know why he does it. Having said that now is not the time to be critical of our captain as he has just led us to the World Cup final and 90% if the time i think he is a superb captain.