There have been times when Suresh Raina has walked into pressure cooker situations – be it in the IPL or donning the national colours.On most occasions he has prevailed which attained him the tag of a finisher and as a batsman who could set or chase targets with utmost ease. Raina has flair, he has composure and he has the game to turn a match on its head.

A muggy evening at the Eden Gardens was no different. Wickets kept tumbling around him in a tricky run-chase but Raina kept his calm to lead his side to a 4-wicket victory. A 46-ball 84 had the Raina stamp all over it.

Long hits down the ground, accelerating at will, the flourish of the bat, and pacers and spinners treated with equal disdain. It was just that kind of a night when Raina reigned supreme. Side in doldrums, much-needed win and who comes to the party? Suresh Raina. For the Gujarat Lions captain, relief was an expression that defined this win at Kolkata Knight Riders’ den.

“It was a crucial win and a much-needed one keeping in mind the situation we are in in the tournament. I am glad we got a win tonight. I am very relieved,” Raina told iplt20.com. “To stay alive we had to win this game and move forward. Had we not got this one under our belt I am sure we would have been very disappointed in the dressing room.”

Sure, Gujarat Lions haven’t had the best of starts in the tournament with four losses out of five before their win against KKR. The side needed some good vibes going into the game and captain Raina had his task cut out to let the positive juices flow into the team. “When the team is down, that is the time you need to show your character and show what you are made of. You need to rise up to the occasion, take up responsibility and lead by example.

“Right from the moment I won the toss, I was getting a lot of positive vibes. I knew we had done well against them (KKR) in the previous game though the match got over in just 14 overs when Chris Lynn hit us to all parts of the ground. That loss hurt the team and me. I addressed the team and told them this is the game where we restart and go all guns blazing. The team was high on morale when we walked out on the field and the result is there to be seen. I have been getting good support from Brad Hodge and Mohammad Kaif who have been spreading a lot of positive vibes in the team. It was a great team effort.”

With a match-winning 84, Raina showed that he was still one of the best finishers in the game. Rewind the clock to his days with the Indian team or his batting marvel in yellow, Raina has always been a side’s crisis man – a role that he confesses he enjoys the most. For which he has a certain MS Dhoni to thank. “I love batting in pressure situations and it is a challenge I relish. I have batted with him (MS Dhoni) for almost ten years now and always admired how he would finish games for the side. I have learnt how to cut down on asking rates from 9 per over to a 7 per over from him. The middle overs in a T20 game is very important and you need to take calculated risks. It is something that I did tonight and have learnt over the years. I was hitting the ball really well and looked to be positive throughout my innings though wickets were falling at the other end.

“When you are a captain, you are there to win a game and set examples for your side. It is something that I have learnt from Dhoni while playing with him for India and Chennai Super Kings.”

It was classic Raina on display. He has been looking in good touch thus far in the tournament with a couple of half centuries and quick-fire twenties and a thirty. Raina hoped he could continue his good run. “It is important for me to keep getting runs and whatever comes my way I will take it. I have been hitting the ball really well and I need to continue the good form. You have to be positive and always look to win the game. I am thankful to have support from the rest of the batting line-up like McCullum, Finch and Dwayne Smith who have been hitting the ball well. I am glad I could come good for the team today. God has been kind towards me and it is good to end up on the winning side.”