By Abhishek Roy, IANS
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh batsman Suresh Raina was always hopeful of making a comeback into Team India but for the cricketer the main challenge now is to breaking into the XI for the triangular series in Australia.
“I was always hopeful of my comeback as I was scoring runs consistently in the domestic level. And hard work always pays and it did this time also. But the main challenge for me will be to get into the XI,” an ecstatic Raina told IANS Sunday, after he got the news of his selection for the tri-series in Australia.
The 21-year-old left-handed batsman from Ghaziabad, scored 683 runs from eight matches at an average of 48.78 with a highest score of 203 in the just concluded Ranji Trophy tournament. Going by his records it was enough for the selectors to give Raina a chance to comeback.
Raina’s inclusion has made the fight for the Indian middle-order very competitive but he was hopeful that he would get a chance in the tri-series that also includes Sri Lanka as the third team.
“It will be healthy competition for the slot in the middle-order and I am hopeful of getting my chance. The selectors have showed faith in me and I have to pay them back by performing well,” he said.
Raina last played for India in the one-dayers against West Indies at home in January 2006 but unfortunately he hit a rough patch and was dropped from the team. He was also overlooked for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa September last year.
“Making a comeback is always difficult, as I will be always under the scanner and one bad performance may again cost me much. But I have the confidence in myself as I have gone thorough all this earlier also,” said Raina, who has played 38 One-day International matches so far.
Asked if how he was feeling being out of the team, Raina said: “Honestly saying I never had any negative thoughts in my mind. But I used to keep on asking myself when will I play for India again and that motivated me to keep performing in the domestic level.”