Bengaluru, Feb 14: Left-hand batsman and electric fielder Suresh Raina interacted with the media in Bengaluru where the Indian team is preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Also useful with the ball, Raina is one of the key youngsters of the current Indian squad. Here he speaks about the lessons learnt and guidance gained from the seniors in the side.

Excerpts from the media interaction

On the competition within the team

I think it’s a healthy competition between me Virat [Kohli] and Yusuf [Pathan]. Whoever plays, it’s important [to remember] we need to win as many matches as we can. We need to practice well in the matches and just focus and whenever we get a chance we need to play our natural game.

On not being able to convert his starts into big scores

It happens with a batsman who plays at the No. 6 slot. Sometimes you get to bat in the 38th or 39th oversand play big shots in the batting Powerplay too. So I am not worried about my batting; I know what I am capable of. I have been scoring 25, 35 but not converting them into big scores. But one day I will. It’s important to just focus on your batting and I know I can do well in big games and I am really keen to play well in this World Cup.

On his role as a bowler

When you can chip in with five overs [it helps the team]. Then you have [players] like Harbhajan [Singh], Yusuf [Pathan] and Yuvraj [Singh] who can bowl. I won’t be surprised if they bowl in the batting Powerplay. The wickets are different in India so part-timers have to make sure that they bowl a good line and length.

On short-pitched deliveries

I am comfortable with that. I am not saying I [have] not got out to short balls [in the past] but I [have] got runs from the short balls. But I could convert them into big scores. I am working hard on my batting and have learnt from my mistakes. When it comes to winning the game I am prepared for that and you will get to know [once the World Cup commences].

On the lessons learnt in the past few years

Stay focused on the game and learn from seniors like Sachin [Tendulkar], [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni and especially [Virender] Sehwag. Be humble [with respect] to the game and look to improve [your] game and [yourself] as a person. It is important to be a good cricketer and good person off the field. Be disciplined and respect seniors and play [your] natural game.

On the 2007 World Cup

No memories. We did not qualify for the Super League. So we played only two/ three games. What we learnt from that World Cup is that we cannot take small teams lightly. We have to play each game like we are playing a semi-final or a final. We are playing our first game against Bangladesh so it’s important we get off to a good intensity with good body language - then we can finish the World Cup really well. [We must] play all games like we play against big teams.

On what this World Cup means to Sachin Tendulkar

The World Cup matters to all the players who have fought for a place in the 15-member team. Earlier there were no good facilities. Even now we have players from middle class families who do not have good infrastructure. At the same time it would also matter to Sachin [Tendulkar] but it would be the same for all the 15 in the team.