After his brilliant century against South Africa, which helped India win by 14 runs on Sunday, Raina said he owes his success to the advice from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Learning from seniors can always help cricketers. Suresh Raina seems to have done that to sharpen his skills and make a mark in international cricket.
After his brilliant century against South Africa, which helped India win by 14 runs on Sunday, Raina said he owes his success to the advice from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Raina is in brilliant form now. Just before leaving for the Twenty20 World Cup, he steered Chennai Super Kings to victory in Indian Premier League final. He has carried his form into the Twenty20 World Cup too. In both these tournaments, Dhoni was his captain.
An inspiring captain can do wonders to youngsters. Soon after Raina made his debut for India at the age of 19, a few critics labelled him a player who only knew to block the ball and not hit it. That was a demoralising comment and he almost succumbed to it.
Fortunately for Raina, he got a platform in the Indian Premier League to display his talent and he came out with flying colours in all editions of this tournament. It was Dhoni who instilled confidence in him.
"Dhoni gave me the freedom and authority to play my game and that trust brought out the best in me," admitted Raina.
To maintain one's place in the Indian team is hardly easy. One has to often out-think the critics who are only too happy to highlight the weakness in you.
Vinod Kambli, another left-hander like Raina, was a victim of such destructive comments. He had strokes which could stun anyone and he may still have been a member of the Indian team. Unfortunately, when Kambli slipped into bad form, he had nothing to lean on as he never sharpened his fielding skills.
Very few are aware that Raina got his fielding lessons at a very young age of 17 from former Indian player Robin Singh when he was with the Indian junior team that played in England. It was Singh, one of India's great fielders, who impressed on him that should selectors be given a choice between two equally talented players, the dice will fall on the one who is a better fielder.
Over the years, Raina worked hard sharpening his skills in all departments of the game. Surely, following his seniors' advice has clinched him a place among the world's best Twenty20 players today.
After his brilliant century against South Africa, which helped India win by 14 runs on Sunday, Raina said he owes his success to the advice from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Raina is in brilliant form now. Just before leaving for the Twenty20 World Cup, he steered Chennai Super Kings to victory in Indian Premier League final. He has carried his form into the Twenty20 World Cup too. In both these tournaments, Dhoni was his captain.
An inspiring captain can do wonders to youngsters. Soon after Raina made his debut for India at the age of 19, a few critics labelled him a player who only knew to block the ball and not hit it. That was a demoralising comment and he almost succumbed to it.
Fortunately for Raina, he got a platform in the Indian Premier League to display his talent and he came out with flying colours in all editions of this tournament. It was Dhoni who instilled confidence in him.
"Dhoni gave me the freedom and authority to play my game and that trust brought out the best in me," admitted Raina.
To maintain one's place in the Indian team is hardly easy. One has to often out-think the critics who are only too happy to highlight the weakness in you.
Vinod Kambli, another left-hander like Raina, was a victim of such destructive comments. He had strokes which could stun anyone and he may still have been a member of the Indian team. Unfortunately, when Kambli slipped into bad form, he had nothing to lean on as he never sharpened his fielding skills.
Very few are aware that Raina got his fielding lessons at a very young age of 17 from former Indian player Robin Singh when he was with the Indian junior team that played in England. It was Singh, one of India's great fielders, who impressed on him that should selectors be given a choice between two equally talented players, the dice will fall on the one who is a better fielder.
Over the years, Raina worked hard sharpening his skills in all departments of the game. Surely, following his seniors' advice has clinched him a place among the world's best Twenty20 players today.
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