India batsman Suresh Raina partially credited MS Dhoni for his quickfire innings against Pakistan in the World Cup 2015. Raina was asked to bat at number four in the match, although he was mostly sent at five. The move paid off as he added a 56-ball 74 runs with a strike-rate of 132.14.
Raina revealed Dhoni asked him to pad-up after 20th over of the match and he had no idea about the move before. Without any question, the southpaw did as he was told by the then skipper.
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“I never questioned his decisions. I remember I was having a sandwich or something during our match against Pakistan in World Cup 2015. Suddenly after 20 overs, he said ‘pad-up’. I padded up. Virat was batting really well and this happened just a few overs before Shikhar (Dhawan) got run out. So I got out in the middle, played a few shots, and scored 70-80 runs,” said Raina in a YouTube interview.
He stitched up a partnership of 110 runs with Virat Kohli, the centurion in that game, which gave India an advantage in the game.
Raina also revealed the plan behind Dhoni’s sudden change of thought. “After the match, I asked him why did you sent me up the order? He said, ‘I thought you will play better against the leg-spinner who was bowling at that time’. He also praised me for my batting. So I also want to know what goes on in his mind,” Raina added, who hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in his innings.
Yasir Shah, the leggie was punished heavily as he ended up with a figure of 60 runs in 8 overs without any success.
India scored 300/7 runs in 50-overs, and in reply, bowled Pakistan out for 227 runs in 47 overs.
Raina said Dhoni stays ahead in the game which helps him plan better. “He was always a step ahead. He used to stand behind the stumps for the entire match, assess the pitch, whether it has turn and swing… He was seldom wrong, I can say he was god gifted. Later when I became the captain of Gujarat Lions in IPL, he told me ‘you can come up to me anytime for suggestions."
