Suresh Raina had a poor ICC World Twenty20 scoring just 41 runs in four innings. However, he has been the most consistent batsman in the IPL with 3,699 runs in 132 matches at an average of 34.25.
With IPL-9 just a few days away, the Uttar Pradesh batsman, who played for Chennai Super Kings, in the last eight editions is hopeful of getting back to form. “It’s about going out there and smash. It’s just what I had done with my old team and with the India team,” Raina said at a promotional event on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old southpaw has mostly played under Mahendra Singh Dhoni for CSK and country till now. But he has to come out from under his shadow to show his leadership skills with his new franchise, the Gujarat Lions.
“Now we are not playing for CSK for two years. I am not competing with Dhoni. All the teams are well balanced. I hope our team does well,” he said.
“I think we (at Gujarat Lions) have got the responsibility. I think IPL is a place where captain is just a name. You need all the 11 players.
“We need match winners to win it for the side which we have in (Dwayne) Bravo and Brendon (McCullum. This shows how much experience we do have in dressing room,” Raina added.
He admitted playing for a new team wouldl be a challenge. “It is like when you are staying in your house and then moving to the next house. But for this, there are lot of challenges in our life.
“I have played for CSK for eight years, learnt a lot of things there from senior players, so the next two years will also be the same,” he added.
