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Top 5 moments that showed Suresh Raina’s love for MS Dhoni
Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni retired from international cricket together on 15th August 2020. Today marks three years since the two cricketing juggernauts announced their retirement one after another. Throughout their careers, the duo has been very close to each other. They also played together in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings and share a close bonding. Here are five such moments when Suresh Raina showcased his love for MS Dhoni.
5. Wearing MS Dhoni’s jersey after surprise retirement
Suresh Raina wore MS Dhoni’s Test Jersey (Source: Twitter)
MS Dhoni announced retirement from the red ball game back in 2014 after the conclusion of India vs Australia series in Melbourne. He gifted Suresh Raina his jersey as a souvenir. However, Raina played his next Test in 2015’s January against the same opposition, Australia, in Sydney. As a token of tribute, Raina wore MS Dhoni’s jersey that he had gifted after announcing retirement from the longest format. Unfortunately, Raina ended up scoring ducks in both innings in that match.
4. Appreciation for helping through a tough phase in 2007
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, India (Source: Twitter)
Suresh Raina did not have the smoothest of inductions into the Indian Cricket Team. He struggled as a newcomer and had to undergo surgery early on in his career at the age of 21. Raina later revealed that MS Dhoni had been a big help through his tough phase he also publicly thanked the former skipper. “He helped me during a tough time in 2007 when I had an operation. The one and half years made me a tougher man and Dhoni guided me during that period as well,” he said.
3. Praising MS Dhoni’s bowling
Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, CSK (Source: Twitter)
MS Dhoni bowls right-arm medium pace. In fact, his affinity with cricket was more centered on bowling. He starts each of his training sessions by bowling in the nets and also has rare wickets and bowling spells at the international level with India. As such, Suresh Raina once called him the toughest bowler to face in the nets. “I think Muralitharan and Malinga (are the toughest to face during matches), but in the nets, it was MS Dhoni. If he got you out in the nets, then you’d not be able to sit with him for one and a half months because he’d keep gesturing and remind how he got you out.” The 36-year-old also said, “He’d bowl off-spin, medium pace, leg spin, everything. In the nets, he would even justify his front foot no balls.”
2. Comparing their bonding to ‘Jai and Veeru’ from ‘Sholay’ movie
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, India (Source: Twitter)
It is no mystery that Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni share a brotherly bond. Chennai Super Kings supporters have also given the duo matching nicknames of ‘Thala’ and ‘Chinna Thala’. In one interaction, Raina did open up on his brotherly bond with MS Dhoni and compared it to the chemistry between ‘Sholay’ movie characters ‘Jai’ and ‘Veeru’. “It’s pure love and blessing. It’s like being Jai and Viru from Sholay. They really enjoy our game and love us,” he was quoted as saying.
1. Announcing international retirement minutes after MS Dhoni
Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, CSK (Source: Twitter)
There is probably no greater proof than this to prove how much Raina loves MS Dhoni. When MS Dhoni announced his international retirement on 15 August 2020, Suresh Raina followed it up with his own retirement announcement. “It was nothing but lovely playing with you, @mahi7781. With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you on this journey. Thank you, India. Jai Hind!,” he wrote in a special tweet emphasising MS Dhoni’s announcement to be a factor in his decision.