The Suresh Raina impact: Can he deliver for India in World Cup 2015?

Suresh Raina is the player for big occasions

Often a player is condemned because he has a weakness and is not able to overcome it. Suresh Raina has been constantly criticised for the way he plays the short ball, but the 27-year-old is not just about playing that one delivery. He is more than that, and there are so many other things to like about the Uttar Pradesh-born. He is the man for the big matches, and my instinct says that he is going to play a huge role for India in the 2015 World Cup.

He is a positive person and encourages bowlers and fielders to do well, too. His enthusiasm in the field is viral, and, as a result, the Indians magically start throwing themselves in the field when he is around. In the recent England tour, where India were crushed in Tests, Raina was the reason there was a complete turnaround in the ODIs: the catches at slips were caught, runs seemed to flow, fielders looked more cheerful than before, and most importantly the team was winning. He has also sometimes been the go-to man for Dhoni when India needs wickets. Raina has constantly given important breakthroughs, and, even in England, he broke crucial partnerships. Now, there was no doubt that India had found a talisman in Raina in that series, and it did not come as a big surprise when he was adjudged the Man-of-the-Series.

Can Raina replicate Yuvraj?

Raina made his debut in 2005 and can now be called a 'senior' player. Then why is it that there aren't as many match-winning innings from him for India? He has done it for the Chennai Super Kings countless number of times and with impeccable consistency. He comes in at 3, and, till he is there, both the Super Kings’ fans and players know that the match is theirs.

But why is he not associated with the same confidence when he plays for India, too? Let's see. In World Cup 2011, where he got a chance to prove only in the last few matches, he played two important knocks versus Pakistan and Australia. The numbers do not show how much value that 30-or 40-odd had in that particular match. The Champions Trophy didn't need much of his services, as Shikhar Dhawan seemed to be in the best of his moods to punish the bowlers. He was dropped from the Asia Cup squad, and we all know what happened in the 2014 T20 World Cup finals.

His real big test is going to be the 2015 World Cup in Australia/New Zealand where the bouncer is the best option for the fast bowlers. India is experimenting with the number 3 position in the current series against West Indies by sending Virat Kohli down the order. This could prove as a blessing in disguise for both India and Raina, who can bat at one down like he does for his IPL franchise He keeps the scoreboard ticking, and, once he settles down, he can go for the big shots.

A few years back, a southpaw, who could also spin the ball a little bit, won the World Cup for India. Raina falls in the same category, and, if he could be the man of the World Cup for India this time around, the Indians would definitely not complain.