Rahul Dravid has always been an elder brother to me, says Suresh Raina

Veteran Indian cricketer Suresh Raina made a comeback to the national side after almost a year. He featured for the Men in Blue in the recently played first T20I against South Africa. Raina’s previous appearance for the Indian team had come in February last year when he played against England. Interestingly, he had hit a fifty in that game. But his struggle with fitness saw him being ignored by the selectors.

Suresh Raina sweated it out at the practice sessions and now, has managed to stage a comeback. Recently, as per the quotes in Times of India, the veteran cricketer hailed former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid as a big support system for him. He remarked that it was Rahul Dravid who showed the ideal way to lead the life and the attitude that a player must have. He recalled how he did not anything about the etiquettes when he walked in to the Indian team. It was Dravid who showed him the way.

“I have always idolized Rahul Dravid. He was my first captain and he has always been an elder brother to me. Hum log thay UP waale desi ekdum. Pata nahi tha kaise khana hai, cutlery kaise use karni hai. Bass yeh pata tha ki ball ko maarna kaise hai. Unse milne ke baad ek saleeka aaya, ek tehzeeb aayi. Dravid showed the way to lead life and the attitude that a player should have. Rahul bhai supported me a lot,” Suresh Raina quoted.

Moment when Rahul Dravid motivated him

Recalling an incident when Rahul Dravid motivated him on the field, Suresh Raina elucidated a moment when he was feeling low. He recalled that he was sitting with Irfan Pathan and talking about the bleak chances of being retained in the playing eleven.

It was just then that Rahul walked up to him and asked him to show some quality stuff with his fielding. And Raina ended up fetching some handy runouts for the Indian team. Raina went on to quote that he can even give his life for someone like Rahul Dravid.

“I remember that at one of the matches where I couldn’t score any runs, I was sitting with Irfan (Pathan) and he was eating and I told him ‘pata nahi kal ka match khelenge ya nahi.’ Rahul bhai told us that it was the time when we should show our strength in fielding. I think that day I really performed well in the later half of the game. Do-teen players out karein maine. Agar koi Rahul bhai ki tarah motivate kare toh hum toh aise hai ki apni jaan bhi de de,” Raina remarked.

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.