Suresh Raina hails Shastri impact

Cardiff: Having scored a match-winning 75-ball 100 against England in the second ODI, Suresh Raina attributed his success to team director Ravi Shastri’s pre-match pep talk, which urged him to go out and express himself.“He gave us a lot of confidence. He came to the team meeting and said a few words which were very inspiring. He was also sitting with me in the bus when we were on our way to the stadium and he told me, khadoos khelna hai (play a stubborn game),” Raina told bcci.tv after his blistering century.

After India’s disastrous showing in the Tests, the BCCI appointed Shastri as the team director, prompting speculation over head coach Duncan Fletcher’s future. There have been conflicting statements over who remains in charge Shastri, Fletcher or captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni but Raina said the team environment was very good and that Shastri’s appointment was already proving beneficial.

“There is a different comfort level when you talk to a former India player; you can be free and honest. All the other coaches have been very supportive as well but Ravi Shastri set the tone for us and instilled confidence in the team,” Raina said.Raina said he felt good scoring his first ODI century in three years. “I wanted to bring in fresh energy in the team, and I am glad I could do that with my overall performance,” Raina said.

“This knock is one of the most special ones for me given the circumstances and the conditions. We hadn’t won the game in a long time and to help the team break that jinx with a century was very satisfying.”It was Raina’s first ODI century since 2010 and his first outside the subcontinent, and the left-handed batsman said he had worked hard on his game ahead of the ODI series.

“After all the work I had put into my game in Mumbai with Sachin paaji and (Praveen) Amre sir, I was determined to join the team and bring them some happiness, whether it is by scoring a hundred or taking a brilliant catch,” he said.

“I had to bring the smiles back on my teammates’ faces. I am glad I could do that today. The team’s environment is very good right now and I hope we continue this performance in the remaining matches,” he added.

Despite facing humiliation in the Test series, Raina said India were a good side and praised skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for motivating the team during the lean patch.

“We didn’t do well in the Test series but that doesn’t mean we are a bad team. We are ranked no. 2 in ODIs and are the reigning World Cup and Champions Trophy winners. MS did a very good job of leading the team after the Tests and maintain the confidence of the young boys. We had decided that we would run for each other and share each other’s success.

That showed in our fielding performance.”Raina said the fact that Dhoni knew his style of pla helped thembuild the innings as they shared 144 runs for the fifth wicket in 16.5 overs to help India score 304/6.“The good thing about batting with MS is that he knows my game and he will never ask me to give up my natural game. At the same time, he keeps talking to me during the innings to ensure I don’t throw it away,” he said.