Jamaica Indias stand- in skipper Suresh Raina is so disappointed with his shot- selection in the last two One- Dayers against the West Indies that he plans to work hard on his batting in the nets to improve himself before the Tests starting on Monday.
Raina was quick to admit that his shot- selection left a lot to be desired in the latter half of the series, which India won 3- 2in the end after losing the fourth and fifth ODI. alt147 I needed to spend some time in the middle. Play for 10- 15 deliveries,alt148 stated Raina who made a heave off the fourth delivery he faced and was out for a duck in the fifth ODI on Thursday, which India lost by seven wickets. It was no different to his mode of dismissals in the third and fourth onedayers where he contributed 3 and 10 runs only.
alt147 I batted well in the first two games but in the next three I had a rush. I didnt spend much time. Hopefully, I would have a couple of good sessions before the Tests with my coach and seniors. It will make me feel better before the first Test,alt148 he said. Raina, in all, made 82 runs from five one- day innings at an average of 20.50 only.
The left- hander wasnt willing to offer any excuse of captaincy pressure or the fact that he has played a lot of cricket lately.
alt147 Theres no excuse. I played two bad shots in the last two games. Coming down the order you want to get on with the game,alt148 Raina said.
alt147 I had decided that if the bowler bowled up to me I would play it over covers. I try to be positive; I have to learn so that I dont do it anymore,alt148 he added.
Raina said too much of cricket has never been an issue for him as he is passionate about representing the country.
alt147 As long as I am playing for my country, I am ready for all kind of cricket — Twenty20, one- dayers, Tests. When I go to sleep, I really have to be satisfied with my performance,alt148 he said.
Raina discounted the theory that it was short- pitched deliveries on a bouncy track, which caught his batsmen napping. alt147 Today, Rohit ( Sharma) and Virat ( Kohli) batted well together.
Earlier Shikhar and PP ( Parthiv Patel) played well in Antigua. alt147 It would have been different had we scored 30 runs more today.alt148 Raina took praised his young team, especially Rohit who was named man of the series for his 257 runs with three fifties and an average of 128.50.
alt147 Rohit was outstanding.
He batted really well and looks ready for Test cricket.
I hope he comes back to Test side soon. I am also glad for bowlers who took the responsibility so well in the absence of Zaheer and Sreesanth,alt148 he said.
I had decided that if the bowler bowled up to me I would play it over covers. I try to be positive; I have to learn so that I dont do it anymorealt148 SURESH RAINA Team India skipper
