Suresh Raina and R Ashwin
With the experienced Ashish Nehra not seeming to relish pressure and the hard-hitting Yusuf Pathan failing to live his hype, the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be left with a lot of decisions to mull upon. This time though, not giving him any reasons to smile, the problem of plenty has posed as plenty of problems.
Considering the possibilities replacements it will possibly be Suresh Raina for Yusuf Pathan and R Ashwin for Ashish Nehra. Something that is helping their cause is that they represent Chennai in the IPL and the next game is to be played at Chennai. Though only Ashwin is a Chennai native, Suresh Raina is receiving a loud cheer from the crowd whenever he enters; given the way he has performed in all three editions of the IPL.
Just like the modern-day electronic equipments, they can add value to the side by doing things they aren’t entitled to. Raina is undisputedly the best fielder India has seen in the last decade and Ashwin can bat too, if needed, in the end overs. Raina also has bowled for Chennai in pressure situations.
Raina is also the kind of player who takes lesser time to settle down. He can easily launch into big hits and also rotate the strike, an aspect of a quality middle order player. The powerplays will be treated by Raina in ‘what-the-concern-was’ kind of way, if given a chance, for he has batted there umpteen no. of times.
Ashwin as Dhoni said in his own words, is a bowler with a lot of confidence. For an inexperienced bowler, you can’t ask for more than variety and confidence in the right proportions. He can bowl with the new ball with the field restrictions in place and also bowl the full-length deliveries in the death overs.
The next one being India’s last league game, it will be the right time for the young guns to have a look in.
Tags: Ashish Nehra, Cricket, India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, R Ashwin, Suresh Raina, World Cup, Yusuf Pathan
