Every batsman should learn from Virat Kohli: Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina had a good IPL season, leading his side, Gujarat Lions (GL) to the playoffs of the tournament. This was the first edition of IPL for the new franchise and they are pretty happy with the progress in the debut season.

Raina became a father and the left-handed batsman had announced the birth of his baby girl, Gracia on Twitter earlier in May. “It is a good feeling. God has been kind. Everything has gone smoothly,” Suresh Raina told DNA India. “Gracia is the biggest gift. Lakshmi aayi hai ghar main (Lakshmi has come in our house). We will have a get-together at home after she returns from Holland. I will bring her to India after eight weeks. I am flying to Holland to be with my wife and daughter,” he added.

The 29-year-old was all praises for the Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli, who almost had a dream IPL run, except the loss in the final. With over 900 runs and 4 centuries in a season, he was undoubtedly at his best this season. Raina went on to say that every batsman should learn from the Indian run machine. “He (Virat Kohli) has a different mindset. He is batting the same way he does in ODIs, T20s or Tests. He knows how to make runs. Every batsman should learn from him on how to bat at No. 3 and get (a) lot of big hundreds, runs in shorter formats and also while chasing,” he told.

“I am confident he will continue the same way for India and win us the games,” he added.

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Raina, who had played alongside MS Dhoni for both India and Chennai Super Kings, claimed that he is completely aware of the thought process of the Indian limited overs skipper. “We played together for the Indian team, spent a lot of time together. I have always stood at slip with him, Rahul Dravid or VVS Laxman. I know what sort of planning he does from behind the wickets, what sort of talking he does, how he motivates the players.”

When asked about his future plans, Raina said, “I will spend some time with my family. I have three or four months. I’ll work hard on my game and spend time with my wife and daughter.”