Suresh Raina: India’s diligent batsman
Suresh Raina is the precarious Indian left-handed batsman who is known for hitting strokes in unexpected areas irrespective of the opposition field placing. He is known for his elegant cover drives and superb batting temperament. Raina’s tremendous ability
of staying at the crease and building crucial partnerships has earned him respect from the team. India will be looking for a positive contribution from him during the ICC World Cup 2011.
Raina also plays the role of a part-time off-spinner and is an amazing fielder for his ability to hit the stumps from the infield. His brilliant performances have given him a place amongst some of the greats of the Indian team.
He made his One Day International debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka, where he went for a duck by spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157. Raina gave a poor performance in the start of his international career as he hit a total 37 runs in the tournament at an average
of 12.33. He was then left out of the starting XI for the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 after Sourav Ganguly returned from his suspension.
Raina was again called into the squad for five matches against Sri Lanka in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Kaif-c77040 was ruled out for his injury. He made 39 not out in the fourth ODI leading his team
to the success. In the next series against South Africa he was again sidelined following Kaif’s return, but later he was invited as a middle-order batsman during the 2006 tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 due to Virender Sehwag’s omission for an injury.
Raina was awarded with his first Man of the Match award in the successive ODI series for scoring an unbeaten 81 runs at Faridabad. He scored two more half centuries in the same series at an average of 48 and was given a contract by the Board of Control for
Cricket in India. Raina hit his maiden century during the Asia Cup 2008 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hong-Kong-c2919. His 100 runs off 66 balls was the second fastest century of an Indian in ODI history.
In the next match against Pakistan he scored a marvelous 84 runs off 69 balls while he hit a splendid 116 runs off 107 balls against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747. For his outstanding performance he was awarded thrice as Man of the Match. Following these achievements he became
successful for reserving a place in the Indian ODI and Twenty20 team.
He made his Test debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in 2010 at Colombo by scoring decent 120 runs. Raina last played a Test against South Africa at Centurion in 2010. He has also became the third highest run scorer in the 2010 Indian Premier League and was titled Man
of the Match in the final for scoring a highest 55 runs off 35 balls and also for dismissing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453.
The player has featured in 19 Twenty20s scoring 2639 runs at an average of 35.18 including three centuries and 16 fifties. Raina made his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2006, as he became the third player to score Twenty20 international
century for hitting impressive 101 runs off 60 balls against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in the ICC T20 World Cup 2010.
Raina will be making his first appearance in a World Cup. The pressure is on him to put in some brilliant performances for India during the tournament. He is a match winner and can single handedly take the match away from the opposition in no time. India
will be hoping that Raina elevates his game and gives the team a solid contribution as they chase the elusive World Cup trophy at home.
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