It was difficult to digest that Indian batsman Suresh Raina, who was once one of the fittest Indian cricketers was failed to make the cut for the Sri Lanka ODI series, as he failed the yo-yo fitness Test at NCA.
Recently, the southpaw was caught up by IndianExpress for an interview. Here are the excerpts.
Talking about his regular posts on social media, Raina said, “I just want to tell people that I am working hard and I am not the thanda type. I always believed in hard work. 60% is your hard work and 40% is your luck. Sachin Tendulkar told me very nice thing the other day, sab acha hai, you don’t need to prove anyone. You have done so much, you just need to enjoy your cricket. I always made with high intensity. I know my chance will come.”
He further added, “Sometimes we express things which we want to. It’s my life and am enjoying it. I have been exploring so many things in life now. You can’t make everyone happy. Social media is used by everyone now and it’s an important tool. Look at the Indian team, everyone posts selfies. It’s not only me who is active on social media.”
Raina also asserted that it wasn’t the first time Sachin Tendulkar helped him with his game, he said, “You have to make small tweaks now and then. As sometimes you don’t realize that your game has changed. That is why you need someone who can tell you that you are going wrong this way, or you are doing good in this area. I remember the last time when I went to England, I had few sessions with Sachin paaji and I scored hundred in the first game in England.”
The UP batsman also clarified that he didn’t fail any fitness test, he said, “If I had failed any test, I would have been told by the board and the trainer. It will be unfair for me to talk about it. For four to five months, I have really work hard on my fitness. I have lost more than five kilos. My flexibility has improved. You will have to see it on the field, or else you will say I am just talking.”
Raina played his last Test match in Australia in 2014-15, scoring a pair in his last Test till date. He concluded by talking about Indian selectors ignoring him, he said, “Selection is part and parcel of the game. 12 saal hogaye, 230 ODI hogaye. If I will have to make a comeback, I will. As I have always said, it’s important to work hard behind the scene. God will give you what you want.”
