Suresh Raina Narrates 'The Phone Call' From Yuvraj Singh Before His Long-Awaited Test Debut
Published - 31 May 2020, 02:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:29 AM
Suresh Raina was a substantial batsman in the limited-overs but he had to wait for five years to make his Test debut. After a long wait, Suresh Raina made his maiden appearance in the longest format against a formidable Sri Lanka side in 2010. Incidentally, it turned out to be a high scoring affair as both the sides scored over 600 runs in the first innings.
Suresh Raina also made his Test debut count after a long wait as he notched up 120 runs off 228 deliveries in the first innings. His knock was laced with 12 boundaries and two hits over the fence as India posted a scintillating total of 707 runs. He recalled his long-awaited Test in an interaction with commentator Aakash Chopra on YouTube.
Suresh Raina: Yuvraj Singh called me night before and said he’s unwell, so be prepared
Suresh Raina recalled the phone call from Yuvraj Singh which affirmed his position about playing the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2010. Yuvraj Singh was not keeping well, and thus intimated Raina, that he should be prepared to make his debut the next day.
“Yuvi paa (Yuvraj Singh) had called me up the night before the Test match and said, ‘I’m unwell, you be prepared’. He said ‘chances are there that you’ll play’. He probably had a stomach bug or a food infection, so he didn’t play,” Raina told Aakash Chopra in a YouTube interview.
Raina also said that he could not sleep the night before as the thoughts of playing against the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Tilakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardena had made him nervous.
“I couldn’t sleep the entire night because it was so hot in Sri Lanka. They had some big names in their team and it was going to be my Test debut.” added Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina also said he was happy that India were fielding first as it gave him enought time on the field to ease his nerves.
“Luckily we lost the toss and we had to field. So i observed the first two days and when my batting came i was ready. If we had batted first, then probably i would’ve got a duck like my ODI debut.”, said Suresh Raina on a lighter note.
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