Suresh Raina
BCCI

Suresh Raina has thanked skipper Virat Kohli after the latter sacrificed his batting position for the comeback man. With the likes of Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order, there was confusion surrounding Raina’s position.

The southpaw has batted in top-order in the Indian Premier League. However, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli form a settled top-order. However, Kohli sacrificed his usual number three spot to make room for the Uttar Pradesh star.

“It is important Virat showed that faith in me,” Raina said on Friday ahead of the final match of the tour.

Despite returning to the team after more than a year, Raina did not take his time to settle down to score big. In both the T20Is, the hard-hitting batsman threw his bat right from the start. As a result, he could score only 15 and 30.

 

SA vs IND 2018: Suresh Raina Grateful To Virat Kohli For Showing Faith
Raina with teammates in South Africa (Credits: Twitter).

When asked about that, Raina said the presence of Kohli, Manish Pandey, and MS Dhoni in the middle-order helps him bat freely

“In the last two games we have dominated the first six overs. It is very important to play well in the first six overs. When you look to target these overs in T20s, you have to play your shots. When there is depth in the middle order, you can afford to take chances.”

The left-handed batsman has not played in One-Day Internationals since October 2015. He was recalled for the ODI series against New Zealand in 2016 but did not play a single game due to illness. However, with India’s middle-order looking fragile, he might get a recall.

“It is very important (returning to the ODI team). But a team victory is more important than individual performances. I am someone who always plays for the team and if we are winning trophies then individual performances (and opportunities) will take care of themselves. Whatever opportunity I get, I look to play my natural game,” he added.

SA vs IND 2018: Suresh Raina Grateful To Virat Kohli For Showing FaithRaina last played an ODI in October 2015 (Credits: BCCI)

“If you see the top order, they are all batting well. When you come to Nos 4, 5 and 6, MS is there and Manish is also doing a good job. So, we will see where I can fit in. We have lots of matches coming up,” he added.

Raina, meanwhile, will be hoping to finish the series on a high. The third and final T20I will be played on Saturday (February 24). The three-match series is currently locked at 1-1.

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