New Delhi, Feb 2: Middle-order batsman Suresh Raina, who played a pivotal role in India’s 3-0 clean-sweep over Australia in the recent three-match T20 series, stated here Tuesday that the triumph has given the side an ‘extra edge’ going into next month’s T20 Worlds.
Australia fielded a second string side against India with top players like Steve Smith, David Warner and James Faulkner playing only one of the three matches. Raina however, said irrespective of the strength of the opposition, India came out stronger from the series.
“Whichever opposition you play, it was important for us to beat Australia on their home turf. Also because of the 3-0 win we are now the No.1 ranked T20 team in the world. The win was a testimony that we prepared well. We will have an extra edge going into the World T20. Credit should be given to the captain and the support staff,” Raina told mediapersons at the unveiling of the Rajkot IPL team ‘Gujarat Lions’ of which he was also named skipper, Tuesday.
His match-winning unbeaten 49 in the third T20 game came while batting at No. 4 while he has mostly batted at No.3 for CSK during the first eight editions of the IPL.
“Batting up the order in T20 is important as it helps you plan and execute your targets. I have played at No.3 for CSK but the team is almost set for the World T20s,” the UP left-hander stated.
Raina also said that the presence of him, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the middle-order at numbers sive, six and seven have given the team solidity and also allowed him to play ‘fearless cricket’.
“In the last over of the final T20 game, Yuvraj told me before the third delivery that whatever happens, we have to run a single. Before that, he had already taken the pressure off with a four and a six. After I ran a two, he said he believed I could finish the match. So with me, Yuvraj and Dhoni in the middle-order, we have the required experience,” asserted Raina.
Returning to the upcoming edition of the IPL, the left-hander stated that it will not be easy to contain a batsman like Dhoni. “We were talking in Australia that now after so many years we will be playing for different teams,” said Raina. “We joked about it, but I know that it will be a challenge to stop MSD, more so when he plays the ‘helicopter’ shot,”
added. Raina. PTI
