World Cup,IPL experience will help Raina: Coach

Unlike the Zimbabwe tour last year,this year,the responsibility in much bigger on Raina as after the World Cup triumph,people want India to excel in all tournaments whether some experienced cricketers are there in the team or not.”

Sharma said that he did not consider the ODI side for the West Indies as an inexperienced one. “Rather than calling it inexperienced,one should call it a young but talented side. It shows that India has a strong bench strength. A number of youngsters will get a chance to show their skill so it is a good opportunity for them. A player like Virat Kohli is there in the team who may be very young but has matured very well as a cricketer.

The team will also benefit from the presence of Harbhajan Singh who is an experienced player.”

He said that he was happy that Raina’s name also features in the Test squad.

“As a young boy,Raina used to tell me that it was his dream to be in the Indian Test team one day. A place in the Test squad is what every talented cricketer dreams of. I am sure that with his impressive performances,Raina will be able to cement his place in the Test team also very soon.”

Regarding the fact that team was not able to do as per the expectations during the Zimbabwe tour last year,Sharma said,“That was Raina’s first tour as a captain so that pressure could have also played some role then. He has matured immensely during the past one year. He has the quality of being ‘cool’ under pressuring circumstances which is must ingredient for a captain.”