While his inclusion in India’s 15-member World Cup squad raised many eyebrows, Indian all-rounder Stuart Binny on Tuesday showed why he deserved to be a part of India’s ODI squad.
Binny, who was included in the team for the second ODI of the ongoing tri-series, first contributed with a crucial 44 runs with the bat and then scalped the only wicket which fell in the England innings.
Binny came to bat in the 20th over of the innings, at a stage when India were reeling at 67/5 after a huge top-order collapse. Slowly, but steadily, Binny resurrected the Indian innings along with skipper MS Dhoni, as the duo added pivotal 70 runs for the sixth wicket.
Binny was the ninth wicket to fall, as he skied a delivery from James Anderson into the hands of Eoin Morgan, while trying to clear the long-off boundary.
Binny’s knock wasn’t the most pleasing to watch, but he did hit some wonderful strokes, including two sixes of Moeen Ali and Steven Finn, and with a little more confidence and backing, he could get into India’s scheme of things.
Much to the surprise of many, Dhoni also gave the new ball to the 30-year-old, who bowled with an accurate line and length and contained the runs. He also got India their only breakthrough of the match in the third over, when Moeen Ali failed to clear the off-side field and handed over a catch to Suresh Raina.
Dhoni and the Indian think tank are still experimenting with the players, and Binny’s performance against England has left them with plenty to ponder.
