The thrashing that they got from the Sri Lankan batsmen notwithstanding, Suresh Raina on Monday insisted that Indian bowlers did their job well and blamed their opening-day flopshow in the second Test on the dead track in Colombo.
The Sri Lankans took command by scoring 312 for the loss of just two wickets on the first day today but Raina, who has been handed his Test debut after Yuvraj Singh was ruled out due to a bout of flu, defended the visitors' bowling.
"I think if you look at the surface there is nothing for the bowlers. But still our bowlers bowled really well. Especially Ishant (Sharma) and (Abhimanyu) Mithun are bowling really well," insisted Raina after the day's proceedings.
"They bowled at good areas. If you look at (Kumar) Sangakkara and Tharanga Parnavitana, they both got back to back hundreds. It is always good to get runs. But I think we had a good bowling plan. We did a good job. Let us hope for the best. We need to execute our bowling plan," he added.
Raina said no matter how many runs Sri Lanka puts on board, India have the batting line-up to out-score the hosts.
"If we bowl well in tomorrow's session it will be useful for us. We will not be under pressure even if they score high. We have got good players. There will be three days and anything can happen. We have players who have done well overseas and everywhere they have scored runs. I think it is an attitude game," he said.
Raina, however, admitted that getting a few wickets would have helped.
"I think we bowled well during the tea session and the last session. We did not give much runs but at the same time we need to take wickets also. So we will have to do well in the morning session," he said.
"I think it will be important what the approach is. We need to bowl well especially in the first session. We bowled really well even today but we could not get the wickets. May be we can get them out before the tea session," he added.
On his debut, Raina said he considers himself fortunate to have got the opportunity and would be aiming to make a mark.
"I have played about 98 ODIs. I have scored runs in first-class cricket. I am thankful to god. He has been really kind to me. The seniors players helped me a lot. If I get to bat tomorrow or the day after, I will do my best," he said.
"I have worked on my technique and my mental strength. I am feeling good at the moment. I really wanted to perform well," he added.
Asked who he idolises, Raina said, "Rahul Dravid is my idol. I have been following him for the past 10 years."
