'We just need to play our normal game'

 MS Dhoni deputed his Chennai Super Kings lieutenant Suresh Raina to attend the customary press conference ahead of Sunday’s IPL final against Mumbai Indians.

The southpaw, who hasn’t been in the pink of form, stressed on the need to play their natural game and not try to do anything different just because it was the final. “Even then we reached the final and that is more important,” said Raina when asked about lack of runs from his blade and the top order. “It is not about the individuals who get there, but if we look at our performances, we have really done well in the batting department. There is one more game to go and hopefully we can go there and enjoy ourselves,” he remarked.

Raina ruled out any nervousness ahead of the big game. “I think we just need to play our normal game,” he noted. “When you know you are playing against the Mumbai Indians, you have to play very good cricket. They have done really well in Kolkata. I still remember when we guys lost against them in the 2013 final. We need to play really well against Mumbai. I think pressure is going to be there but you need to play on your merit and work hard on your game. I think whichever team gets nervous, it’s going to lose the battle,” he reasoned.

Batting in the first six overs, Raina pointed out, will be crucial on the Eden pitch. “In Kolkata you have to make a really good point to yourself and that is to go out there and bat really well in the first six overs,” he began. “Then you have to bat sensibly from the eighth to twelfth over. We need to give a good start in the six overs,” he added.