Leading a young side to Zimbabwe after the selectors decided to rest several senior players including regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina on Tuesday said he was confident the youngsters would deliver in the tri-series and two bilateral Twenty20 internationals against the hosts.
“We have to thank the seniors who have taken a rest and it has given a great opportunity for the youngsters to do well. We have a good bench and all of them have done well in domestic cricket,” said the 23-year-old, who is yet to play in a Test match, ahead of the team’s departure here.
Raina said leading the country was an honour and dream come true for him but it had also imposed extra responsibility on his shoulders. “I have dreamt about leading India. By the grace of God I have got the opportunity. It’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to it. But it has also thrust great responsibility on me,” he said.
Raina also brushed aside concerns that Indian batsmen were not comfortable against the short stuff.
“There’s a lot of talk we are not good against short-pitched bowling. We have done well in Tests and 50-over games to become the number one team in Tests and number two in ODIs. Some days you get your shots right and on others you get it wrong,” he pointed out.
Saying the 50-over game was different from T20 cricket that the players have been involved in for the last three months, he reckoned that the team would do well in the longer format of ODIs.
“In T20 you have to smack every ball from the start. But in the 50-overs game, you have to hold back a bit,” said the Uttar Pradesh lad.
Raina also felt that his inexperienced pace bowling attack had the most to gain from the tour. “We have some very good medium pacers. Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar and Ashok Dinda have done well in domestic cricket to earn their place in the side.”