World Cup 2015: Suresh Raina could be India's Most Valuable Player

A year ago, having started their ODI World Cup preparations in earnest, India returned beaten from South Africa and New Zealand, losing six out of eight ODIs and winning none. The biggest casualties of this dual failure were Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, the former playing his last ODI in Africa, the latter dropped from the Asia Cup squad in Bangladesh.

It was clear that Yuvraj’s time in blue was done and plans to replace him were already afoot, but Raina’s loss of form was more puzzling. He failed at number four during the 2013-14 home ODIs versus Australia, and was pushed down to number five, then six but had no success there either. His lean trot was so severe that India’s selectors chose not to take him to the Asia Cup despite MS Dhoni’s absence.

Could India have gone to the World Cup without Raina too? The answer to this question seems unthinkable now, but twelve months ago, it was dependent on Raina gaining some confidence in the T20 season, if not runs. He didn’t make the best of starts for Chennai Super Kings in the UAE leg, but recovered when the IPL returned home in May. Then came the ODI leg of the England tour and voila, Raina ended up man of the series.

That series was a turning point, not only for him, but also for the team’s World Cup plans. Batting at number five has given Raina the freedom to attack without worrying about making big scores. It also convinced Dhoni that India could play six batsmen and five specialist bowlers, the latter a necessity with the new fielding restrictions.

India’s game against Zimbabwe in Auckland epitomized the success of that approach. India were 92 for 4 chasing 288 before a 196-run partnership between MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina won the game. It was Raina’s first ODI hundred since January 2010.

“I observed Yuvraj Singh and saw how he used to finish games for the side. I want to play his role in this World Cup,” Raina told to BCCI.tv.

The big difference from four years ago is that Raina’s role puts him in the spotlight now. In 2011, he batted after Yuvraj and Dhoni. He has thrived under the responsibility. Against Pakistan Raina was pushed up to No. 4 and while Virat Kohli anchored the innings, his easy run-scoring allowed India to put up a 300-plus score on the board despite a late collapse.

In the quarter-final against Bangladesh in Melbourne. India were 126/3 after 30 overs. It was a situation tailor-made for him. This time with Rohit Sharma for company, Raina’s breezy hitting broke the shackles and woke up the batting order, resulting in a late charge that propelled the score beyond Bangladesh’s dreams. Rohit would get most of the plaudits for his wonderful hundred, but Raina’s 65 was invaluable too.

If India win their next two games, and Raina keeps playing the way he has, there’s a good chance he emulate Yuvraj in another way - by winning the Player of the Tournament award in a World Cup.