New Delhi: Drawing confidence from his performance down under, explosive batsman Suresh Raina on Tuesday said thrashing Australia at their own den had given the Indian team “an edge” ahead of next month’s World Twenty20 Championships.
Raina hit a match-winning 49 not out off 25 balls to ensure India’s 3-0 clean sweep over Australia in the T20 series last week.
“It was important for us to beat Australia on their home turf as they are in our pool at the World T20. Also, since we beat them 3-0, we are now the No.1 ranked T20 team in the world.
“The win was a testimony to our preparation. We will have an edge going into the World T20. The credit should be given to the captain and the support staff,” Raina said at the unveiling of Rajkot IPL team, Gujarat Lions.
On his performance with the bat while coming out at no. 4 position in the T20 series, the 29-year-old, who mostly played at no. 3 position for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, said: “Batting up the order in T20 is important as it helps you plan and execute your targets.”
Raina also had words of praise for comeback all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
He said the duo’s presence in the middle-order allows the team to play “fearless cricket”.
“During the third ball of the last over, Yuvraj told me whatever happens, we have to run a single. Before that, he had already taken the pressure off with a four and a six.
“After I ran a two, he believed I could finish the match. So with Yuvraj and Dhoni in the middle-order, we have the required experience.”
Newcomers Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah stole the limelight in their debut series and Raina believes the duo has the required “mental toughness” to excel in overseas conditions.
“It is not easy for youngsters to tour Australia in their first series. The youngsters showed required toughness and mental character. They should be lauded for their performance,” he added.
