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Positive dressing room atmosphere helping: Raina
After scoring his first Indian Premier League century, Suresh Raina on Thursday credited a perfect atmosphere in the dressing room for his brilliant run in the T20 league.
Raina, who is the highest run-getter in IPL history so far, cracked 100 off 53 balls to help Chennai ease past Kings XI Punjab by 15 runs.
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"To be honest I missed a century in last season and previously in South Africa. When the team needs you and you perform, it is very good feeling. I am really happy to have achieved it," Raina said.
'Michael Hussey has been my role model'
Asked how he has maintained his superb form in the IPL, the diminutive left-hander said a healthy dressing room where seniors are of great help, is the key.
"I took the responsibility myself. I have spent a lot of time with Duncan and Fleming, and Michael Hussey has been my role model in IPL. When you have positive attitude in the dress room you tend to learn a lot of good things from the senior players. It is all about attitude and hard work.
"Twenty20 is all about how you play your shots and at the same time, you need to work really hard on your mind. I must say that God has been great in my working on all these aspects and performing well," he said.
"We are positive in the dressing room. Right now our dressing room is one of the best since IPL was introduced. We have been enjoying the moment. Hopefully, we will continue to do well in the coming matches also."
'We are in a good frame of mind right now'
Raina said the players have gelled well and that has a lot to do in their dominant run so far.
"We have a team room and we spent of time together. We play table tennis and pool games and listen to music. We get to know a player as a person off the field. I think that made us very close to the players. Still lot of matches are coming up and if we work hard on our fitness we can get through."
Raina said their pace bowlers also need to be acknowledged for the win.
"Albie and Mohit Sharma and Bravo bowled really well today with the new ball. We are in a good frame of mind right now and we are focussed," he said.