Raina scored a half-century in the tri-series ODI against Australia after having bagged a 'pair' in his return to Test cricket after two years.
India lost the Test series 0-2 but earned appreciation for fighting draws in the last two matches.
"In Sydney (fourth Test) I played my first Test after more than two years and didn't score a run. That hit me real bad. Everyone in the team tried to cheer me up saying 'it's okay, it was hard luck'. But I was really disappointed. I was just stunned. It felt like a bad dream. I had worked so hard for this opportunity and earned it after so long," Raina told 'bcci.Tv'.
Raina said the drawn matches were a huge factor in helping him reboot himself and be prepared for the ODI tri-series, which also features England.
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"I learned a lot in the next two days after that Test, gathered myself and practised really hard with the white ball. It was a new format and the one I have done well in. I put the Test behind me and started to focus on the ODIs. I am glad I could score a few runs right away," he said.
"People have been talking about the short ball for years now. But I have come a long way. I worked hard with Sachin paaji at the BKC and with (Pravin) Amre sir as well. I believe I have improved a lot in that regards and it shows in the way I have been playing the bouncer for quite a while now," he pointed out.