Always wanted to get back in that blue jersey: Suresh Raina

India currently have the best top-three ODI batsmen in the world and a bowling unit that looks as complete as it can ever be, but the middle-order is still an area of concern. That’s where Suresh Raina, tried and tested, turns important. Making a comeback in the Indian T20 team after a year, Raina is understandably keyed up. Raina talks to Boria Majumdar about his comeback, domestic performances, 2019 ODI World Cup and more.
Excerpts:

Are you nervous?


No, I am not nervous. I am excited and keyed up for sure but not nervous. I’m match ready having played a lot of domestic cricket and I’m waiting for my opportunity to step out for India yet again.

How was it to play domestic cricket and keep yourself motivated? All of a sudden Suresh Raina, one of the better shorter format players for India, playing in empty stadiums away from all the public glare.

Playing in empty stadiums is a challenge but you’ve to shut all of that out of your mind. It’s only about you, the bat and the ball. You are your own adversary and all you need to do is challenge yourself. You don’t care for the cameras or the crowd. It’s about you in your own eyes. That’s what professional sport is all about.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (domestic competition), you looked hungry. You got plenty of runs and appeared fitter.What have you done different in the last 12 months?

I did a lot of outdoor sport. Did boxing, for example, and a serious amount of physical exercise to get fitter. I used to run in the mornings and evenings. It’s lonely. But that’s what you have to do and keep believing that your hard work will get you an opportunity. While running lap after lap, I never let negative thoughts creep in. I knew I could make a comeback and always wanted to get back in that blue jersey and I am glad I now have another opportunity.

You share a really good rapport with Ravi Shastri.

Ravi bhai has always been great for me. When the team wasn’t doing well in England in 2014 and he had just taken over, he had spoken to me and said I was a key player in the middle-order and I needed to step up, play a lot of angular shots. He kept pushing me. As a result I did really well in that series and also did well in the 2015 World Cup (ODI) in Australia. I’m very much looking forward to getting back into the nets with him. What is also important is that Virat (Kohli) knows my game very well. He has set the standards very high. It’ll be exciting to train with the team and go out and do well for India.

With the ODI World Cup just over a year away, one spot that is still up for grabs is the No. 5 position. You think you have a chance?

I am for sure looking at the World Cup. I was part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup and played some important innings for India. I did well in the quarter-final against Australia at Ahmedabad and the semi-final against Pakistan. I had a reasonably good World Cup in 2015 as well. You can say I am a World Cup player. I will work my hardest to make it back into the team for 2019 and want to play a key role in the campaign.

Your thoughts on the ODI series win. The process started in the 3rd Test of the series and the momentum continued into the ODIs.

It’s a brilliant achievement. Winning a series in South Africa is one of the hardest things in contemporary cricket and not many teams have been able to do it. It tells you about the quality of this side and also the ethics that Virat has brought into the team. It’s not easy to maintain the same intensity right through the series which we have been able to do. Now we will want to do the same in the T20 series.