Calm Raina waits on results

Suresh Raina, toasted as a prodigy and shuttled into India's Test side even before he had an ODI half-century to his name, goes into a series against South Africa A feeling the weight of how much has been said about him. Against England at Faridabad last year, Raina showed little signs of being 19 when he walked in at 92 for 5 - his unbeaten 81 a joy to watch. But gradually since then Raina the prodigy became Raina the tormented. Fidgeted up and down the batting order, he looked lost, eventually losing his place in the ODI side - he has not scored a half-century in his last 17 ODIs.

Speaking to Cricinfo ahead of the first four-day match against South Africa A at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla, Raina cut a calmly confident figure when asked about his being dropped from the national side, a knee injury that kept out of competitive cricket for nearly six months and ruled him out for the ICC World Twenty20, and how important this series is for his chances of a comeback.

First, he was quick to admit that being dropped from the national team gave him plenty of time to look back at his time at the international level - "It's tough, but you get the chance to see how you failed and what you need to shape" - but firmly believes it is a question of time before his hard work on batting and fielding starts to reap results. "I was injured during the Ranji season, but am much better now. The injury was tough, but I'm back to full fitness. And I'm playing for a good side here, which is good for my confidence. And yes, I'm looking forward to coming back into the Indian team. If I do well here, it would be very good."

This match against South Africa A, the first of two four-day fixtures ahead of three one-day games, gives Raina the opportunity to prove his fitness and remind everyone of his talent. He's also confident of India A's chances against a tough South African side. The strengths, he points out off the bat, are in all three departments, but there's one word he puts an extra emphasis on - youth. "We have a very good young side. We did well in Kenya and Zimbabwe. We have a very experienced captain. It's a good series for us."

Raina was an evident second-in-command as India A's day began with fielding drills, led by Mohammad Kaif, also Raina's Uttar Pradesh captain and "very good friend". He's very vocal, bucking up those at the end of the line and gives fielding tips to a lagging team-mate. Later, while the rest of the team is taking high catches and relayed throws, three batsmen who've played for India are being given slip catches by Manoj Tiwary. While Kaif cuts a pale figure of the livewire he used to be, and Aakash Chopra curses under his breath when he lets the odd one go down, Raina asks for more when a tough chance to his far right goes down. And more. It's clear he wants to do better.

Raina says he used the time out of the national side working hard in the nets and gym, and with his personal doctor Chandan Chawla and India's physio John Gloster, two men he thanks for spending time with him. "They've helped me lot. I'm in good shape now."

When batting against Pankaj Singh and Yo Mahesh, two fast-bowling aspirants, Raina middles just about everything and his footwork is positive. But there's a sense that we've seen it all before. During the Greg Chappell era, if we can call it that, Raina was much-talked about, a "marquee" player who came through a system which seemed to foster youth. Then came the hard times, during which he found himself dropped as older players such as Sourav Ganguly were called back to the side. Did this disillusion him in any way?

"No, because Chappell sir gave me lots of confidence. Everyone did that. Sachin bhai, Rahul bhai, Sourav sir, they called me up and gave me confidence." Raina smiles, faintly, as he lists these four names. "They all gave me direction. They asked me how I was preparing myself, told me to keep believing in myself, to be positive."

As for that same system that put focus on youth, Raina says it all depends on how he performs in the domestic season. "You do well for your side and that's good. This game is my first big chance after the injury. I've only played a few matches. I really want to do well. Definitely I will give 100% to the team."

Perhaps Raina's biggest attribute to the national team was his enthusiastic brilliance in the field. India suffered a lot in the field in England, consistently sliding only to allow the ball to pass or allowing batsmen second runs for a poor throw. From his expression it is all too evident that Raina believes he would have made a difference, but he plays it diplomatically. "It wasn't great, but we have good players such as [Dinesh] Karthik, [Robin] Uthappa, Yuvraj [Singh], and Piyush [Chawla]. When we went on that tour to Pakistan [in 2006], myself, Yuvi, and Kaif set a level. Hopefully we can get back to that level. We're all in shape and working on fitness."

Earlier this summer Raina was eyeing a stint in the English counties, but that didn't work out for "different reasons". But he says he will try again.

During our conversation he doffs off any suggestions of a rivalry between him and Kaif for a middle-order spot before saying that his immediate goals are to "play well and bat well in every game".

As the conversation drifts back to the topic of India's English summer Raina says he enjoyed the batting of "Sachin bhai and Yuvi against South Africa and England" and that it felt good. "I can take lots of feeling from that," he says but his voice trails off slowly when asked if he watched the Trent Bridge Test, where India's stirring victory ultimately clinched them a rare away series victory, and if not being there really hurt. "Yes, I missed it ... but it's best for the team." And then, picking himself up with a quick smile before shaking hands and almost skipping into the pavilion, "It was a very good victory for us."

Right now, Raina needs to replace the breeze about his seriously prodigious talent with actual results. There will be plenty waiting to find out if he is truly special enough to help wash away the bitter taste of India's one-day decline in the last year.