Is Dhoni Responsible for Raina's Below Par Performance in World T20?
By GiriPrasath
@GiriPrasath (29)
United States
June 15, 2009 6:42am CST
These things go unnoticed if India keep winning. But the crashing out of the Indian team from the T20 tournament brings out these little things to the spotlight.
Suresh Raina, who is an automatic No.3 for India was at the top of his form, before this T20 tournament. But he was not allowed to play at that No.3 spot throughout the warm-up and the group stage matches of the tournament. Dhoni played at No.3 in all those matches in which the openers gave a solid start.
If you ask any No.3 batsman, he would say that seeing the openers perform will keep them relaxed. Instead of Raina, Dhoni went into bat when the openers gave a solid start. Raina lacked match practice in all those matches.
Suddenly hes sent into bat at No.3, when the team is down 12 for 1 when everyone expects Dhoni to enter the scene. Can you name a single team in this tournament, who has changed their No.3 player with no concrete reason? Is Dhoni responsible for Raina's below par performance???
Leave your comments below.
Have fun!
1 person likes this
12 responses
@pratik87 (1927)
• India
15 Jun 09
is dhoni going to bat for everyone in the tam now. the fact is that raina is not good at facing short pitched stuff. and the opponents took advantage of it. it was a plan from the start tat he was not always going to bat at number three he just wanted the other batsmen to play around him which unfortunately did not happen and got out while trying to go for the big shot against west indies and against England raina struggled right from the first ball so what difference would it have made at whatever he would have come he would have still struggled against the rising delivery if he is no good at playing the bouncer.
@kingrichard (1)
• India
16 Jun 09
ya Dhoni is responsible for Rainas below par performance in the t20 world cup.
Raina who was in his prime form in the IPL 2 nd season was not given enough oppurtunity to maintain his form in the t20 world cup. Even though he played well against newzeland in the warm up matches, he was pushed down the order in the other matches. Due which he didnt get much match practice and could not fire for the indian team when needed. Also Dhoni could not make much power to the batting by coming third. So I strongly believe that Dhoni should have sent have sent Raina up the order instead of him going first..
@subha12 (18441)
• India
16 Jun 09
I can't say directly it was Dhoni's fault for Raina's bad performance. Its true Dhoni's all decisions went wrong. But Raina got chance to bat bu could not perform. It was Raina's fault.It seems Dhoni was the leader in this defeat and all team members contributed him.
@safraz123456789 (43)
• United States
16 Jun 09
In part he is responsible since he is the one that rearranged the batting order but he cannot be blamed for it all since no-one knows if Raina is not in form.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
16 Jun 09
GiriPrasath,
I do not think Dhoni is solely responsible or to be blamed. Cricket is a team sport and if the other players are not performing or doing their part then I am sure these under performers are equally responsible for the teams poor performance and subsequent loss.
In any team sport, every member from management, coach to the players are responsible for their role and part. Sometimes, there are some issues and decisions where it is made for the overall than some individual personal performance reasons. Besides, I am sure if you can consider the option, the team isn't lagging or ignorant and there must be other factors for this final decision.
Lastly, it is a known fact that a better team will always win and it is just not India's day. So, don't be over critical and harsh about this loss. There will always be another chance to redeem their current situation.
Have a nice day.
@vijayanths (7877)
• India
15 Jun 09
In my opinion it is correct that the captain can change the batting order according to the situations.But captain never lofted his bat in this T20 tournament. He was playing like a test match. This will affect the attitude of other batsmen. Dhoni is responsible for the loss. In the last match he should have sent Bajji before him. Or he should have gone for the runs. What is the use in safely bringing the wicket home? Now all the fans have developed a big aversion on Dhoni because of his bad type of batting and bad decisions. he is no more fit to play T20 games is my humble opinion.
@ankitsrivastava (40)
• India
16 Jun 09
Yes Dhoni is responsible for this as there was not much practice of this reason i am about to give.Actually dhoni thinks that it is difficult for right handers to make runs lower down the order.So he had left handers to bat at the end and make big shots.And have himself in middle overs where he can get the runs made in singles and play spinners efficiently which not many batsmen are able to do.But When an early wicket fell at that time it should have been dhoni to go in with an aggressive attitude to score runs in powerplays where he could have been successful.
So he needs some time.But there is a fault on his and coach's of underutilising players of large caliber in such a small version of game
@rakesh284 (1472)
• India
16 Jun 09
I think Dhoni is trying to do something but it went wrong and he failed along with his team.
Even our fielding was not up to the mark against both England and West Indies.
There were few mis fielding and some difficult chances which India should have taken and even few bowlers didn't bowled consistently well in this season.
If you are talking only about Raina then there might be some tricks or suggestion from coach as well.
@Mac6999 (705)
• India
15 Jun 09
You cant blame Dhoni for everything. Dhoni was out of form before the tournament started no doubt about that. So I guess they thought of giving him as much time as possible to get back into form. Unfortunately for Raina he missed out on some opportunities, but that does not give you an excuse to fail when its your turn to bat. The better players are the ones who can adapt quickly and do whatever is necessary for the team to get back on track.
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