Rajkot: Struggling for runs in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, under-fire Suresh Raina has got the much-needed backing of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who advised the middle-order batsman to give himself a bit more time before unleashing his big shots.
"More than the form he needs to give himself a bit more time. He's gone in and played the big shots. Whenever you go in you actually have more time than what you think. I's important for him to play a few deliveries," said Dhoni at the post-match press conference after India lost the third ODI by 18 runs here last night.
"It's not easy to straightaway play the big shots. He needs to give himself a bit more time as it becomes difficult to find people who can clear the big outfield. My personal feeling is he needs to give himself a bit more time and everything will be fine," said the captain.
The Uttar Pradesh left-hander was dismissed for ducks in the last two games after scoring 3 in the series opener at Kanpur. He did not have a great time in the preceding T20 series as well against the visitors.
Talking about yesterday's game that India lost by 18 runs after failing to chase South Africa's 270 on a slow pitch, Dhoni said the wicket became increasingly slower as the game and made life difficult for the batsmen.
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"In the first half, the wicket played differently and as the game progressed, it became more and more difficult. If the wicket had not changed, 270 was a very good effort by our bowlers. But it became slower and we were not able to play the big shots.
"I hope you have heard what I said (in the din) yeh bandh nahi hoga, aag laga ke chod diya (This won't stop, a fire has been lit and left alone)," he said jokingly about the din created by the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) officials.
"I thought it was a very good effort by the bowlers. I thought it was a good wicket to bat on, the spinners did not get much assistance but they bowled well. As I said, it got slower and slower there was a bit of reverse swing. The fast bowlers used the extra fielder in the end quite nicely. If the wicket had not got slower, 270 was a par score," he explained.
Dhoni, who made 47 and also added 80 runs with his deputy Virat Kohli
