I am thankful to Raina for putting in a good word for me: Virat Kohli

Star India batter Virat Kohli and the former legendary southpaw Suresh Raina have played a decent amount of cricket together. The duo were part of the Indian squad that went on to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Both the players share a good camaraderie off the field too after having played for the country. 

Kohli recently opened up about his off-field relationship with Raina. The right-handed batter reminisced about his initial days before breaking into the Indian team. He recalled a tournament that had Raina noticed him queried about his gameplay. He added that Raina had insisted the coach Pravin Amre field him in the playing XI, even if he had to open the innings.

“It was mid-tournament and S Badrinath was the captain, and then Raina became the captain. And Pravin Amre was our coach and he had me sitting out. I did not perform in the initial games, and I was playing in the middle order. Raina saw me in the nets and asked him ‘ Why isn’t this lad playing?,” Kohli was quoted as saying by News18.

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“The answers that came in were W’e can’t find a place’, and unfortunately at that time I replaced Jinx (Ajinkya Rahane). And Amre sir thought that I couldn’t open the innings. But Raina said, ‘he can do anything, please put him in. They asked me if I would open and I said ‘ I shall do anything, just let me play,” he further added. 

And I am thankful to Raina for putting in a good word for me: Kohli

The Delhi batter went on to amass 12 runs against New Zealand. The then-team India selector, Dileep Vengsarkar took note of the brilliant innings and it made a significant impact in Kohli’s international prospects. Kohli further added that he is grateful that Raina put a word about him.

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“It is one thing to hear about and batter and another to actually watch it. It has a separate impact. How he plays pressure situations and that game I managed to make 120 and he was convinced to give a chance going forward. And I am thankful to Raina for putting in a good word for me,” Kohli concluded.