The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Raina happy with the recovery

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Thursday, Jun 07, 2007
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Raina happy with the recovery

Principal Correspondent

Suresh Raina. — PHOTO: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Dropped from the Indian team, laid low by a knee injury that left him facing the surgeon's scalpel and briefly enthused by the `Wisden Cricketer's copious praise as a player of the future, Suresh Raina has seen it all.

The Uttar Pradesh lad, known for his southpaw's finesse as well as electric heels inside the inner circle, was present at the Chinnaswamy Stadium's sidelines while the Afro Asia Cup's first ODI was in progress here on Wednesday.

Raina was in town to consult Indian team physio John Gloster, who is assisting both the Asian and African sides.

"I am very happy with the knee's progress. John (Gloster) is pleased with the recovery and has given me some intense workouts for strengthening the knee. He has asked me to intensify my fielding drills besides batting and bowling," Raina said.

Future plans

Raina is hoping to fully recover by July end and is targeting the season opener domestic tournaments like the KSCA all-India invitation at Bangalore, Buchi Babu at Chennai and Moin-ud-Dowla at Hyderabad to get back into the groove.

The 20-year-old will play for his employer Air India.

He is hoping to be fit in time for the seven-match one-day series in England commencing on August 21.

"I have been doing a lot of sessions in the gym besides some swimming to strengthen the knee," Raina said and added that the praise in Wisden Cricketer was a `morale-booster.'

Raina last played for India in an ODI against the West Indies at Chennai on January 27, 2007. Subsequently he was back to the grind of domestic cricket before the knee injury suffered during a Central Zone one-day tournament, laid him low.

The talented youngster, with 36 ODIs and 612 runs under his belt, is banking on a quick comeback into the Indian dressing room.

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