He might be very much considered a limited-overs specialist but the one thing that Suresh Raina is focussed on right now is a spot in the Indian Test side.
The 29-year-old, who is currently leading the India Green side in the 2016 Duleep Trophy that is being played under lights with the pink ball, is hopeful that a few good knocks in the tournament can push his cause for a Test comeback with a busy home season scheduled for India in the coming months.
“If I get more overs, I feel I can score big like the 90 off 101 deliveries I made for India Green in the second innings against India Red a few days ago. In that innings, I was batting with the tailenders and I was happy to score under the lights. I am beginning to find form and hopefully, with a lot of Tests coming up this season, I hope to make the (Test) team,” Raina said.
Speaking about his success in the IPL over the past years, the left-handed batsman said that hard work has been key to his consistency and also feels that batting at the no. 3 spot for the Chennai Super Kings rather than lower down the order for the national side, has helped him ease his way in the middle and score more runs.
“T20 is a format which requires a player to constantly work hard on his game. There are many who would say that all you need is just need one good season to make a mark, but you have to be consistent and play well each season,” he said. “See I come at no. 6 in the batting order usually and it's very difficult. In IPL, I usually bat at the no. 3 spot and make a lot of runs. (But) I have also won a lot of games for India coming in at no 6.”
Considered one of the best fielders in the Indian side, Raina said that it was one aspect of the game that he has always enjoyed and has been constantly trying to get better at it.
“I have always enjoyed my fielding drills and have always looked to improve myself on the field. Be it taking catches or effecting those run-outs, the more you work hard the better you are going to get,” he said.
Expressing his support to the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) which kicked off recently, Raina hopes to see at least a few youngsters from the inaugural edition of the tournament to feature in the next edition of the IPL.
“It definitely is a fantastic tournament and you would see a few cricketers from TNPL who are going to play in the IPL next year. These tournaments provide a platform for players to showcase their skill set and soak in the pressure of playing in front of a capacity crowd. With the tournament being telecast live, it's a big plus as youngsters watching will be motivated to take up this sport,” Raina said.
Having been overlooked for the hastily arranged T20 series against the West Indies in the USA, Raina has had plenty of time on his hands to spend with his family and he revealed his thoughts on how parenthood has affected him.
“It's been a surreal experience and I forget everything when I see my daughter around. Her mother (wife Priyanka) does a lot of sacrifices for her and I make sure to be by her side all the time,” he said.
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