New Delhi, Oct 12:
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has said the growing diversity of batting styles among Indian players has made cricket more innovative, with leading batters adapting their approaches and playing fearless cricket under pressure.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Indian Softball Cricket League, where he is the brand ambassador, Raina cited Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as examples of players bringing different approaches to the game. He said India’s talent pool had expanded significantly, with players contributing across formats and handling pressure with confidence. Raina also pointed to the availability of experienced coaches as a factor helping players develop their skills.
Raina congratulated fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar on his return to the Indian squad, describing it as a reward for hard work, discipline and consistent performances in domestic cricket. He praised the 36-year-old’s fitness, professionalism and commitment to his craft, and wished him well for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Raina also backed softball and tennis-ball cricket as accessible platforms for aspiring players, particularly fast bowlers, to develop their skills. He said these formats demand talent and effort and that the growing professionalism of tennis-ball cricket leagues was creating more opportunities for players to earn recognition and income.