Auckland: It is great to be a strokemaker but it is must for a batsman to have control over his shots to have continued success.
This was the message for Suresh Raina from his skipper MS Dhoni after India’s 15-run loss in the second ODI at Hamilton. India’s hopes had diminished when Virat Kohli got out in the 30th over but the presence of Dhoni and Raina at the crease was still a concern for the Kiwis.
And surprisingly, it was an out-of-sorts Raina who was the chief aggressor in that partnership. He scored 35 runs off 22 balls, with six fours. It was a scene enacted out of many similar run-chases the two batsmen have pursued for Chennai Super Kings. For a short time, Indian hopes were up again, only to be dashed when Raina holed out.
“Raina is someone who plays aggressive cricket but it is important to have control over your mind as to what are the areas you want to hit. If it is not there to be hit, what are the other options you have got?” said Dhoni, talking about Raina’s batting. “It is not like you want to try and hit something and even if is not there to be hit, you still go for a big shot.” (PTI)
