Suresh Raina: “I feel MS Dhoni can do better up the order”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Suresh Raina believes that MS Dhoni would be a lot more effective with the bat if he were promoted up the order.

On 45 occasions, Dhoni has come in at No. 2, 3 and 4. He has scored three centuries and 18 fifties, and his average when batting in those positions is fantastic as it stands at 64.47.

When coming in at No. 5, Dhoni still has an excellent record, but it’s not as good when he bats higher up. On the 68 occasions he has batted at No. 5, Dhoni has made four hundreds and 15 half-centuries, and averages 53.29.

“I feel MS Dhoni can do better up the order,” Raina was quoted as saying by CricTracker. “He can hit better and get more time. He is the kind of player who, if he plays up the order, will always keep the team in a strong position.

“The T20I series will be important, then there’s the series in Bangladesh and the IPL. But the experience of 50-overs cricket is very important. It makes a lot of difference – when you play at that position (Numbers 4 and 5 in the middle order), you won’t get any sleep.”