It is Only a Matter of Time Before I Make My ODI Comeback: Suresh Raina

It took about a year or so for Suresh Raina to make a comeback in the Indian team. The southpaw made his way back into the team after a break of 12 months. However, he has quickly gone on to prove his mettle in the T20I series against the Proteas which the Men in Blue won by a 2-1 margin. With scores of 15,31 and 43 in the series, he had all but cemented his place at least for the shortest format in the recent time.

However, he doesn’t want to sit on his laurels. Instead, he wants to make a comeback in the ODI team, and he is so confident that he feels that it is only a matter of time that he make it to the ODI squad.

“Just a matter of a couple of games there, I can assure you that I am going to be there very soon,” promised Raina at the post-match press conference. “I worked really hard for two years. Each and every session, I was doing in the gym, on the field, I was just (thinking) when I am going to play for India again. I think God helped. Thanks to my wife, my kid to make me believe I can go there and wear the jersey again. That’s what I think the Indian team does. When you make a lot of sacrifices in your life and at the same time you enjoy your game, (it works out). I worked really hard on my game and my mental toughness.”

The inconsistency of some of the middle and lower order batsmen has paved the way for Raina’s comeback. With the World Cup just a year away, Raina is of the opinion that he make the finisher’s slot his own.

“It is very important for me. From here we play in Sri Lanka and then we have IPL also coming up. And I was part of the World Cup before. I won the WC in 2011 and played first World Cup that I played, I’ve got the trophy in my house, that’s an unbelievable feeling. Coming back to one-day spot, I think I’ve done well at No. 5.”

Raina lauds Kohli for giving confidence to his players

Speaking on the triumphant campaign in the T20I series, Raina lauded Virat Kohli for the way he led the side and also for infusing the confidence in rest of the members of the team.

“First of all congrats to India for the way we played in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. We showed what we can achieve as a team in South Africa. The confidence in the dressing room gave us the license to enjoy ourself on the ground and express ourselves. That’s why we won this game so beautifully. The way we bowled in the (first) six overs – Bhuvi, Bumrah, Pandya… I think T20 cricket is all about how you put your attitude on the field, and that showed today.”

“I think when India wins, everything looks nice. The way Virat led the team in the last two months, I think it showed he cares for each and every person. Batting at 3, he was brilliant in 20-20, and gave me the license to go after all the bowlers. I think that showed faith in me. At the same time, I enjoyed batting with Shikhar (Dhawan). He made me more comfortable, and he was telling me ‘just look to enjoy yourself, look to express (yourself)’, that’s what we’ve done in the first six overs.”

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