Dhoni asks stand-in skipper Raina to keep it simple

New Delhi:

Shoehorned into captaincy, Chennai Super Kings' stand-in skipper Suresh Raina said he would go by regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's advice and try to keep things simple against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League match here on Friday.

"I had a chat with Dhoni and he told me to keep things simple and play the natural game. I would do just that," Raina said after the team's net session at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Dhoni sustained an elbow injury in Kolkata which ruled him out of action for 10 days, elevating Raina to the captain's post.

Raina conceded it was a big challenge but said he was up to it.

"We are going to miss Dhoni, no doubt about that. But when someone gives 100 per cent, there always are chances of injury and that's how he got injured in Kolkata.

"Leading the side is a big challenge for me, that too in such a big tournament. But we have (coach) Stephen Fleming, (Matthew) Hayden and Justin Kemp -- so there is a lot of experience in the dressing room," Raina explained.

"Selectors must be having some idea as they chose me for the captain's job. This is a responsibility and I believe such responsibility would only improve my batting," said the left-hander who has been CSK's most prolific scorer in the first two editions of the Twenty20 event.

Dhoni's absence opened the door for Parthiv Patel and Raina said the diminutive stumper would open the innings on Friday.