Win against Pakistan was for Kargil heroes: Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina tells DNA he was confident of getting an opportunity as the World Cup progressed and once he got it, he never let go of it.

How does it feel to be a part of history?
You can say it’s unbelievable. It’s great to be the world champions. First, we became No 1 in Tests and now the World Cup. We have worked very hard for this and everyone deserves the credit and we are proud of it. Personally, how tough has the journey been? There were ups and downs.

It has been quite tough. However, I did not lose hope. Sachin kept motivating me. I knew that I would get a chance. We have been preparing for the World Cup for a long time and it feels nice when you achieve something you have worked hard for.

You did well against Australia and Pakistan.
Both the games were tough. I had to prove myself. I didn’t go for the big shots and instead played with patience. I knew the powerplay would come and I can create opportunities at that time. Also, against Pakistan I wanted to bat till the end and take the team to a competitive total. I batted positively in both the innings and you can see the result.

Your pull shot off  Brett Lee was delightful. Was it a conscious effort?
That shot was intentional. People said that we could not play short deliveries but I wanted to prove that we are capable and can play those shots. Even if they hurl 145+ kmph at us, I can play them well. I have been in international cricket since 2005, almost six years.

How was the game against Pakistan?
The matches against Pakistan have always been high pressure games. The other day Shahid Afridi said that India players don’t have big heart. It’s wrong. We have big hearts and played that game with enthusiasm. We wanted to win the game for everyone. The World Cup and the win belong to our spectators, the martyrs of 26/11 and our Kargil heroes. This World Cup belongs to every Indian.

Everyone knows that Sachin and the other seniors wanted to win it badly. How desperate were the youngsters of the Indian team to win the World Cup?
All the members of the team wanted to win it badly. A host country had never won it and we eagerly wanted to do it. We were all focused and wanted to make minimum mistakes in the tournament. We didn’t want to lose the final and we got a good start. We took one match at a time. In the end, we achieved it. Everyone in the dressing room was emotional and thrilled to win it.

The middle-order berth seemed to be packed with no place for you. How did you keep yourself motivated?
I knew that I would get an opportunity at least once and I wanted to put 100 per cent. I stayed calm and patient. I knew what I was capable of. I knew I was a good finisher and can deliver in any situation. I had that confidence in myself. Once I got the opportunity, I didn’t look back.

Suresh Raina, the fielder, played in all the games.
It was always important to be ready. Fielding is a very crucial part of the game and I know that if I am on the field then I can save 30-40 runs. I was always ready for the opportunity to get on to the field during crunch situations. For fielding, fitness is important, but look at the way our team fielded in the final. We gave our 100 per cent. I have never seen this kind of fielding from any team. It was our best effort.

How much will the team miss Gary Kirsten?
A lot. He has been a father figure to everyone. He has guided everyone and worked very hard for each and every player. Everyone knows about his throw-downs. He would start at 9 am and finish at 2.30 pm bowling to all the batsmen. He would give superb challenges to us. He was a world class player with loads of experience and knows the players’ mentality. He had never won a World Cup for South Africa as a player. He wanted to win it for India as a coach.

What now from here?
I am thankful to everyone. I was part of the Test squad when we became No 1, then did well against South Africa, a century on Test debut and then part of the World Cup team. It is a great feeling. My family and friends have been supportive and I thank them. It feels nice to be at the top. I want to continue in the same manner and perform well with the bat.