Cape Town: Suresh Raina, whose all-round performance helped India clinch the T20I series on Saturday thanked skipper Virat Kohli for letting him bat at number three on his comeback to the national side after almost a year.
“The way Virat led the team over the last two-and-a-half months, he showed that he cares for each and every person. Batting at No.3, he has done brilliantly in T20 cricket but he gave me the opportunity to bat there and license to go after the bowlers and attack. He showed the faith in me,” said Raina.
He also said that the series was important for him to make it to the ODI side and regain his slot in the middle-order.
“I worked really hard over the last two years. Each and every session I was doing in the gym or on the field, I was just hoping when I am going to play for India again. God has been kind. Thanks to my wife, she really made me believe that I can go out and wear the India jersey again,” he added.
Given India’s middle-order woes, Raina can perfectly fit into the batting line-up and the Uttar Pradesh southpaw feels that the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka would be crucial.
He said, “This series was very important for me. From here on, we will play in Sri Lanka and then IPL. We have a lot of matches coming up. I have been part of the World Cup before and I have won it (in 2011). I have done well at No.5. It is just a matter of couple more games and I can show that I can do well and come back in the ODIs.”