The Indian team management took some strange calls in the team selection in the second Indian-Ireland T20I. While KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik were dropped in the first match, the Virat Kohli led side came up with a bigger surprises in this match.
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The management rested veterans MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Instead, KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik were given a chance in their place. Young pacer Siddharth Kaul also made his T20I debut as well.
Many were not sure whether or not Suresh Raina deserved a place in the side or not but Raina showed with his fine performance that he still had a lot of cricket left in him.
Also Read: Ravi Shastri lauds MS Dhoni while reminiscing about World Cup 2011
Kl Rahul and Virat Kohli came out to open the innings for India. Although the partnership did not work as Kohli was soon dismissed by Chase.
Suresh Raina came out to bat at one down and looked in fine touch. He played exquisite shots. Raina muscle 5 fours and 3 sixes.
The southpaw played a scintillating 69-run knock at a strike rate of more than 150. Twitter was delighted with his performance and went crazy:
Raina in good form is big asset for India with his experience & explosive strokes. Given the competition must hold on to his place in team!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 29, 2018
Suresh Raina now has 1000 T20 runs in 2018 only third cricketer after Pant and Watson to cross this landmark…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) June 29, 2018
Raina’s inside out satisfies my soul.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 29, 2018
Half-centuries from Rahul and Raina and a quick-fire 32 off 9 from Hardik Pandya fire India to back to back 200 + scores for the first time in T20Is, reaching 213/4 in Malahide.#IREvIND LIVE ➡ https://t.co/Kfzd5vRk3N pic.twitter.com/fBorRwHLLq
— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2018
Suresh Raina Brings Up Half Century Off 35 Balls. Great Comeback Champ. 💪🙏 #INDvIRE #INDvsIRE #IREvsIND #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/heFEU8YkJG
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) June 29, 2018
This is Suresh Raina’s only second score of fifty in the last 7 and half years in T20I cricket for India in 48 inns!#IREvIND
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 29, 2018
Came in to bat at number 3 and scores a 50. Well spent time for @ImRaina at the middle #IREvIND #Raina
Pic Courtesy : Sony Six pic.twitter.com/rNmcJrlSjj
— Whistle Podu Army – CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) June 29, 2018
Uh oh, Raina falls as I tweet! But he’s played a splendid knock
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 29, 2018
Everyone be liked… Raina Scored Half Century😍
Bt Only True Fans knows how Much Hardwork He did in last Year
To get his Position Back😎💙
He was Dropped
He Fought
He Worked Hard💯
He Practiced & Now he is Back Where he Belongs❤
P.S : Never Give up Attitude of @ImRaina ❤😇 pic.twitter.com/NK8OtPQWzA— RAINA’s SAKSHI ❤❤❤ (@SakshiRMishra) June 29, 2018
Most runs in T20 cricket in 2018
1125 – Rishabh Pant
1019 – Shane Watson
1003* – Suresh Raina
912 – Shikhar Dhawan#IrevInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 29, 2018
Suresh Raina Becomee 3rd India To Complete 1500 Runs in T20I #IREvIND #Raina @ImRaina pic.twitter.com/xdMn5PjISM
— Dhoni Raina Team (@dhoniraina_team) June 28, 2018
No one in this team makes the best use of the PP overs apart from Raina and SD
— Abhay🇧🇷 (@ImAbhay3) June 29, 2018
