Watching Suresh Raina in full flow in limited-overs cricket a thing of beauty; very few things can be bettered in cricket in terms of aesthetic value.
However, while watching Raina put that blade of his to the best possible use, the question that always comes to mind is: "Why can't he do that in Test cricket."
After all, the talent is there, and elegant, wonderfully-gifted batsmen like Raina needs to be playing at the highest form of the sport.
Anybody watching Raina make mincemeat of the KKR bowling in the CLT20 2014 final would agree with that, and one of them, who was front and centre on that particular day – Ravi Shastri – also concurred.
"The more I see him play, he is brilliant to watch," India's new team director said in Mumbai. "It will be my endeavour really to do something that will get him back into the Indian Test match team.
"He is a class act. When is going he is a treat to watch. Even at times when I see him bat at the nets, when the ball hits the bat, just that sound or sense of timing you know it is something different.
"Let's hope, fingers crossed."
Raina has so far failed to capture the imagination in the five-day format, managing just 17 Tests at a poor average of 28.44. His only hundred in Test cricket, remains the one he scored against Sri Lanka on his debut in 2010, while he continues to make merry in the shortest format of the game, when he only has 20 overs, or usually considerably less, seeing as he doesn't open, to notch up that three-figure mark.
If Shastri can bring the best of Raina into Test cricket, then India will benefit greatly.
The former cricketer also revealed his role as India's team director, a role given to him by the BCCI after India's pathetic display in the Test series against England.
"My job is to ensure that everything is in order. It's not just about communicating with the players," he said. "It's also about giving your views, your inputs as a former player, and as a broadcaster. I've watched more cricket than I've played.
"So, there's enough in this upper-storey here [pointing to his head] that can be used before I forget it. That's what I tell the players. Don't be afraid to ask me questions, because there's enough there for me to be able to contribute."
Shastri, who will be with the team until the 2015 World Cup, where India are the defending champions, also insisted his presence will not affect the role of the coach Duncan Fletcher. Shastri's appointment has been interpreted as a bit of a wake-up call for Fletcher, who perhaps takes his penchant for staying in the background a little too seriously.
"He is brilliant," added Shastri. "He is a seasoned campaigner. He has over 100 Test matches as a coach for various teams. The good thing is Fletch and me go a long way back. We know each other.
"I captained the U-25 team against Zimbabwe in 1984 when he was the captain of Zimbabwe. He has got a fabulous track record. It is how we use the knowledge that he has in the best possible way and communicate with the players."
Shastri insisted MS Dhoni remains the main man for India on the cricket field, but the former all-rounder also believes too much importance is given to identifying who has control of the cricket team.
At the end of the day, all that should matter are the results. "The boss is the captain on the cricket field," he added. "I am in charge of the coaching staff. That's put into place. My job is to oversee things and see things go all right.
"Who cares who's the boss? At the end of the day, you win and to hell with it. Whoever wants to be the boss, let him be the boss."
