Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina recently praised New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra for his performance in the current World Cup, comparing his batting prowess to that of Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Ravindra has been a standout performer in the tournament, currently ranking third among the top run-scorers. His impressive tally includes 565 runs from nine matches at an average of 70.62, featuring three centuries and two half-centuries.
Ravindra's exceptional batting skills were on full display in his hundreds against England, Australia, and Pakistan, underscoring his talent and consistency with the bat. His contributions have been crucial for New Zealand's campaign on Indian soil, leading up to their semi-final clash against India on Wednesday, November 15, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
"Ravindra is a local boy from Bangalore and has been hitting the ball like Rohit Sharma and has been changing the course of the game," Raina was quoted as saying on India Today's 'Battle of Champions' show.
Raina also commented on Devon Conway, another key player for New Zealand. Conway had a spectacular start to his World Cup journey with an unbeaten 152 against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, he has struggled to maintain that form, failing to reach a half-century in subsequent matches. Despite this, Raina believes that Conway possesses the temperament required for big matches, a quality he has demonstrated while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"He is a big match-winner and we have seen that in the IPL. We saw that he scored a hundred against England. He looks solid and plays all around the ground. He plays spin really well, reads the situation well. He hasn't been scoring, but has always done well in big games," he added.
Conway's overall performance in the nine matches includes a score of 359 runs, averaging 44.87, with a strike rate of 102.27. Raina's insights reflect his confidence in both Ravindra and Conway's abilities to impact the game significantly, particularly in high-pressure situations like the upcoming semi-final. These assessments from a seasoned cricketer like Raina add to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the India-New Zealand match-up in the World Cup.
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