Looking ahead to every game: Raina

16th May 2008

Suresh Raina, Indian middle-order batsman and a member of the Chennai Super Kings in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), is looking ahead to every opportunity to improve his performance. Raina's experience in the IPL has been "really nice" so far. He finds the compressed format of the game tough to a certain extent though he is enjoying the version at the moment.

"I am quite excited about the game though Twenty20 is really hard as you keep on hitting sixes and fours. You have to be very alert of the bowling attack," he stated to one of our on-field reporters.

He is also relishing the experience of playing with a good mix of international players in his side.

"We have world-class players. It is good fun to play together and it a good chance," he stated.

Raina reckons that the tournament is certainly a good stage for the young players to get ahead in their career.

"It is a good platform as most of the young players are performing well at the moment," he said.

Raina was a proud member of the Uttar Pradesh squad when they won the coveted Ranji trophy title in 2005-06. Looking back at the winning moment, he lauded his UP teammates for their performances.

"Kaifee (Mohammed Kaif) played really well, RP Singh and Piyush Chawla bowled well too. Tanmay Srivastava, and Ravikant Shukla were the other guys who gave us the edge. We hope to get together again in the dressing room and have the same kind of fun," he said.

The left-handed batsman has had good stints in the Indian domestic circuit till date and is keen on improvising his game further in other formats of the game too.

"I am looking ahead (for) a chance to play in the 50-over game. I am trying my best to prove myself," he stated.