Left handed batsman said that he planned to attack from the first ball
Suresh Raina one of the key components of Chennai Super Kings, showed his game-changing ability with a murderous attack on the Royal Challengers Bangalore
Bengaluru: If there is one thing that separates Chennai Super Kings from the rest of the seven contenders in the IPL, it’s the staunch belief in their personnel. Since inception in 2008, the Super Kings are one of the two teams, the other being Rajasthan Royals to some extent, to have stuck with their trusted resources and it’s little wonder that it has translated into consistency for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s outfit.
On Wednesday, IPL’s prolific and top run-getter Suresh Raina, 28, one of the key components of the side, showed his game-changing ability with a murderous attack on the Royal Challengers Bangalore. If his 32-ball 62 full of swinging sixes and fours was the corner stone of CSK’s total, it was the unerring accuracy of the 35-year-old left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, that shut out the Challengers in pursuit of Chennai’s total of 181 for eight.
Raina, who stacks up 3452 runs from 120 games in the league, said he planned to attack from the first ball. “I just looked to be positive from ball one and it really paid off. I think Smith batted really well alongside with Faf, and we had a very good partnership. I think I should have stayed for two more overs,” said the left-hander who brutalized the RCB attack.
But he was quick to point out that it was the bowlers, Nehra in particular, who fashioned the victory.“But still the bowlers bowled really well and credit goes to Ashish Nehra, Ishwar Pandey and Mohit - they bowled really well. When you chase 180 you need a good start in the first six overs and we bowled really well. Ishwar Pandey was a surprise, with what he has done for us over the years and credit goes to him and what he has worked with Andy Bichel over the last two-three weeks,” said Raina.
While Raina has been a permanent fixture in the CSK team, Nehra has turned out for Mumbai Indians, played twice for the Delhi Daredevils before being roped in by the Super Kings in 2014. The left-armer is repaying their trust in him.“He bowled really well for CSK, he's the most experienced bowler we have. He knows when to attack and when not to. We always enjoy each others’ success, and I think that is the key to his bowling.
He always gives good suggestions to Mohit, Ishwar and others.”The turning point, as everyone realized and confirmed by Raina was AB de Villiers’ run out. “When he and Virat were batting, I thought they could finish the game in the 19th over, but when AB got out we thought we had the game.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
