India batsman Suresh Raina made a comeback to the Indian side after one year and justified his selection for the Twenyty20 International series against South Africa in style. Suresh Raina, who was promoted at No. 3, scored a brilliant knock of 43 runs off 27 balls and claimed one wicket to help India beat South Africa in the third and final T20I and win the series 2-1. For his match-winning knock, the southpaw was also adjudged the player of the match. Hailing Raina's performance, India cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri called the 31-year-old a 'fearless' cricketer.

"He's vastly experienced and he showed what experience can do. What I liked the best was he was fearless. What I liked was the intent because normally when you come back into a side after a long period of time you can be playing for your place. And that can put added pressure on you. But he went out there as if he was never out of the side and batted in that fashion. It was very good to see," Shastri said. In three T20Is, Suresh Raina scored 89 runs at a strike rate of 153.44. He scored 12 boundaries and two sixes in his comeback series.

Due to his impressive show against the Proteas, Raina has been included in the 15-member squad for the T20I Tri-Series in Sri Lanka, starting March 6. Before this, the 31-year-old last played for India in a T20l match against England on February 1, 2017. He had made an impressive 63 off 45 balls but did not feature in subsequent T20I series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia.