As the T20 World Cup approaches, Suresh Raina emphasises the importance of India adapting to the weather conditions in the USA and the Caribbean. Suresh Raina believes India’s balanced team will thrive in the tournament set to commence on June 1.
Suresh Raina, a name that conjures images of elegant left-handed batting and acrobatic fielding, bid farewell to cricket in September 2022. His career, though decorated, was a tale of both remarkable highs and glimpses of what could have been. Raina’s cricketing journey began brightly in domestic cricket, representing Uttar Pradesh. His aggressive batting and handy off-spin bowling quickly grabbed attention. The Indian Premier League (IPL) became his defining platform. Playing for the Chennai Super Kings, Raina became a fan favourite, a vital cog in their championship-winning teams. He currently holds the record for most runs scored by a left-handed batsman in the IPL. He etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian batsman to score a century in all three formats of the game – Test, ODI, and T20I. He was even part of India’s victorious squads in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
What Suresh Raina Said
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina expressed confidence on Sunday that the ‘Men in Blue’ will perform admirably in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in West Indies and USA from June 1 onwards.
Speaking to the media at an event of Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh’s Chhattisgarh Premier League he cautioned that they should swiftly adapt to the “drop-in pitches” and weather conditions there. The T20 World Cup is set to commence on June 1 and will be held across venues in the USA and the Caribbean until June 29.
Raina said,
“The team is balanced. Rohit Sharma is the captain. Virat Kohli is in fine form and Suryakumar Yadav is in good touch. Two left-arm pacers are going, who can bowl in the powerplay. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are going.”
He added,
“However, matches there are at 10:00 AM in the morning. The wickets are also drop-in. The team should get used to these wickets and conditions as soon as possible.”
Regarding vice-captain Hardik Pandya’s struggles in the IPL, Raina commented,
“He has done really well (for India). Temporary poor form does not make someone bad. When he performs well against Pakistan in the World Cup, everyone will praise him.”
MI endured a tough IPL season under Pandya’s captaincy, managing only four wins out of 14 matches. Pandya himself scored 216 runs in 14 matches, averaging 18.00 with a strike rate of 143.04, with a top score of 46. Additionally, he claimed 11 wickets at an average of 35.18 and an economy rate of 10.75.
India, placed in Group A of the ICC tournament, will face arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. Their T20 World Cup journey kicks off against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. The marquee clash against Pakistan follows on June 9 at the same venue, with subsequent matches against the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.
India’s squad comprises Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohd. Siraj. Reserves include Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan.