Though going through a lean phase, Suresh Raina tells DNA that he is not fussed about his position in the team and would like to concentrate on the job in hand.
How excited are you about playing in your first World Cup? Are there butterflies in your stomach?
I am very excited to play in the World Cup. Chances are quite bright for our team, which has a lot of youngsters in it and has been playing really well in the last couple of years.
What does the World Cup mean to you? Especially, since it is being hosted by India?
It is a big event. It comes every four years. It is an opportunity to become the champions. We have a good team. I think if we reach the semifinals, nobody can stop us from winning the title at home. We have to stay humble, disciplined, focused and down to earth through out the tournament, if we want to reach that stage.
What kind of pressure is there on a player like you since you are playing your first World Cup?
There is no pressure of any sort on me. I have been playing international cricket for the past five-six years. I know very well how to handle pressure. I have been fit and want to make each and every important opportunity count as it comes and keep the winning momentum going.
You have been criticised for the low scores in South Africa recently…
I had been getting good starts, scoring 30-40s but it is unfortunate that I would lose my wicket. But the situation, where I came in, demanded me to slog in the 30-40 overs. I was batting well and got the ball in the middle, but again, unfortunately, I could not take the team through. I have always given my 200 per cent to the side.
With kind of competition there is right now and with Virat Kohli in form, do you fear for your place in the side?
I am not the kind of person who would worry about these things. I have played over 100 ODIs. I have always played up to my ability. My focus is just on the World Cup.
Are you comfortable with your current batting position?
I have been batting at No 6 & 7, which is quite important. You just need to go out there and explode. I have been rotating the strike and I’m aware of my strengths. I can read the situation and know how to approach the game in the last 15 overs. I am fine batting there and it comes naturally to me.
You have been quite handy with the ball too these days…
I am doing well with the ball and whenever I get the opportunity to bowl those 4-5 overs, I try to pick up a wicket or two and get the breakthrough. These days, spinners come handy during the batting powerplay, where batsmen try to go after you and fall in your trap. I am all focused about my job.
This may be Sachin Tendulkar’s last World Cup and the slogan these days is to win it for the batting great…
The World Cup belongs to every Indian and we would like to win it for everyone; fans and people who pray for us. We will put up our best performance to win the World Cup for every Indian.
How do you rate the balance of the team?
We have a very good batting line-up. Everybody chips in with some thing or the other. We have a good pace attack with Zaheer, Ashish and Munaf and Bhajji in-charge of the spin department. We have the team to win the World Cup.
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