http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527 wanted Raina to open – Cricket News Update
Prolific http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539 shared on Tuesday that the former Indian coach Gary Kirsten wanted to see him open for India in all three formats of the game, adding that he himself also feels up to the task.
The 26-year-old left-hander, who has hired a personal coach in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pravin-Kalyan-Amre-c82617 to overcome the technical shortcomings in his batting, believes his technique is well suited for top-order batting and is confident of delivering as an opener in all formats.
“I think I can open the innings in every format of the game,” the 26-year-old hard hitting left-hander told TOI on Tuesday. “I can defend very well and whenever the situation demands, I can play my shots. Gary Kirsten always wanted me to open the innings. He felt that I can do the job perfectly,” he added further.
Raina’s claims have come after he struck an unbeaten 105 for his state side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vidarbha-c860 at the VCA Civil Lines ground in Nagpur on Tuesday.
The left-hander, who is keen to prove his critics wrong and make a comeback into the national Test side, moved himself up the order in U. Pradesh’s second innings and hit a dazzling 105 not out to stake his claim for a Test spot. Raina’s unbeaten knock was studded with 13 muscular fours and two lofty sixes.
“Today's century was important for me,” Raina told TOI after the four-day Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha ended in a draw. “I am determined to score heavily every time I go out to bat and be ready for a national call. The main reason to promote myself up the order was to get good batting practice and put up a big score against my name,” he added further.
Te left-hander, who has so far played 17 Tests, 151 One Day Internationals and 32 T20 Internationals, has done well at the No. 3 slot for India in limited-overs cricket as well as in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), and was confident of doing well in the longest format of the game as well, if given a chance.
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