Suresh Raina - 6 Top notch knocks in ODIs

#5 England vs India, 2014, 2nd ODI, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 100

Raina's 100 set the tone for India to win the series

India had a disastrous Test series in the 2014 tour of England, except probably the one in Lords, where the Men in Blue managed to win against all odds. Then came the ODI series, in which India was expected to perform a lot better. The first of the five-match series was washed out without a ball being bowled in Bristol. So, virtually it was a four-match series between England and India.

Cardiff hosted the second ODI, in which England won the toss and put the visitors in. India needed a win to start the series as it is always crucial to start on a winning note in a bilateral series. They lost Dhawan and Kohli pretty early, as Rohit and Rahane steadied the ship with a fifty partnership, but two quick wickets again meant that India was in a spot of bother at 132/4.

This was again one of the many instances that Raina and Dhoni had bailed India out of trouble. Raina once again managed to get a hundred, this time off just 75 balls, which put India firmly in control. To face the likes of Anderson and Woakes in English conditions is always a tough ask and it seemed that Raina had an answer to every question that the English bowlers threw at him. He was once again in his free-flowing best to get a hundred and in the process, bailed India out of trouble yet again.

He had an able partner in MS Dhoni, who chipped in with a just over run-a-ball half-century. The famed duo put on a humongous 144 run stand and by the time both the batsmen fell, they had done enough to bat England out of the contest. India had raced to 304, a total that looked well beyond reach when the top order fell in real quick time.

It has to be said that Raina almost single-handedly carried India to 304, with the next top scorer being Dhoni and Rohit (52 runs to their name). That is one of the major reasons why this knock will find a place in the top ODI knocks in Raina's career.

Raina can be very handy with the ball as well, as he showcased on that day in Cardiff. He bowled three overs for just 12 runs and picking up the wicket of Jordan. India decimated England that night, by bowling them out for just 161. Hales top-scored with 40 and England did not have much to show after that. Raina deservedly was awarded the Player of the Match award, for his all-round heroics that set the tone for India for the rest of the series.

India did manage to win the series by a thumping 3-1 margin, and Indian fans will fondly look back to this game in Cardiff, where Raina enabled India to start the series on a winning note. Indian cricket and its fans badly needed this series win after the battering that it got in the Test series, and it was very much made possible, thanks to a Suresh Raina special in Cardiff!

Truly a masterclass from Suresh Kumar Raina in Cardiff!