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Suresh Raina, a big asset - Dhoni
Thursday, May 21 2009
Durban: Suresh Raina is an asset to be treasured given his growing stature as a multi-skills player, according to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captain of the Chennai Super Kings who last night defeated Kings XI Punjab en route to the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
Dhoni singled out Raina for special praise after the match. Raina, reckoned as a part-time bowler and better known for his batting skills, picked up two crucial wickets with his off-breaks as the Super Kings defended a total of 116 by restricting Kings XI to 92.
“Having Suresh Raina is a great asset for us. Whatever opportunity he has got, he has grabbed it with both hands. Raina has bowled line and length in the pressure games where the ball was not turning. I think, Raina gives you another option. If I am playing with four fast bowlers and two spinners then I know that I have Raina who can bowl full quota of four overs,” said Dhoni.
The skipper pointed out that Kings XI’s tactics of playing out Muttiah Muralitharan backfired with Ravichandran Ashwin and Raina chipping in usefully in the middle overs.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Dhoni said it did not matter whom they would be playing as he believed that the Super Kings would be a tough side to beat.
However, he cautioned the players of repeating mistakes that cost the Super Kings a few matches in the league. “Till now, we have had made some mistakes, but from now onwards, 15 minutes of madness and we can lose the match. From now on, it will be tricky,” he said.
Dhoni believed that individual players can turn things around in the knockout phase. “From now on, it will be more of a lottery system. If one batsman has a good day, then he can take the team through. One can say that till now, one had to play as a team consistently, but now onwards, it will be about three hours. If somebody like Hayden or a Raina or a bowler like Muralitharan has a good day, then he can see our team through,” said Dhoni.
Reacting to Shane Warne’s comments that Super Kings are the favourites to win the Cup this year, Dhoni said: “It feels good when somebody reckons you as the favourites in the tournament.”
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