Suresh Raina Lauds BCCI's Decision To Rope In MS Dhoni As Mentor For T20 World Cup 2021

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina appreciated the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their decision to name former Indian captain MS Dhoni as the team’s mentor for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

On Wednesday, BCCI announced a 15-member squad with an addition of three reserved players of the Indian team that will participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the October-November window.

"Former India Captain @<!---->m<!---->s<!---->d<!---->h<!---->o<!---->n<!---->i to mentor the team for the T20 World Cup" – Honorary Secretary @<!---->J<!---->a<!---->y<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->h #<!---->T<!---->e<!---->a<!---->m<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a

— BCCI (@BCCI) S<!---->e<!---->p<!---->t<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

All the very best to team India on the upcoming T20 World Cup: Suresh Raina

The India board also made a special announcement of including Dhoni as the mentor of the team for the showpiece event. The news was welcomed by the millions of fans and lovers of the legendary cricketer.

Raina, who alongside Dhoni announced his international retirement in August 2020, wished the Indian contingent and said the squad looks very balanced. Raina took to his Twitter account to applaud the Indian board for its fabulous decision.

“All the very best to #TeamIndia on the upcoming T20 World Cup, the selected squad looks very balanced. Good to have @ashwinravi99 back in the team, and a fabulous decision by @bcci to have the man himself @msdhoni bhai as the mentor,” Raina tweeted.

All the very best to #<!---->T<!---->e<!---->a<!---->m<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a on the upcoming T20 World Cup, the selected squad looks very balanced. Good to have @<!---->a<!---->s<!---->h<!---->w<!---->i<!---->n<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->9<!---->9 back in the team, and a fabulous decision by @<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->i to have the man himself @<!---->m<!---->s<!---->d<!---->h<!---->o<!---->n<!---->i bhai as the mentor.

— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) S<!---->e<!---->p<!---->t<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

A flashback at MS Dhoni’s T20I captaincy for India

Under Dhoni, India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 after they defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 5 runs in a thriller encounter.

Dhoni was the captain himself leading the team in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup on home soil in 2016, where he took the team to semi-finals and eventually lost to defending champions West Indies at Wankhede Stadium.

Dhoni, who is also regarded as captain cool by his fans, had a magnificent international record as the team’s captain in 332 matches across all formats.

Dhoni holds the record of most matches as a captain in T20 Internationals as he stood as the team’s leader in 72 games, only England’s current captain Eoin Morgan (64) is near to him. India won 41 T20I matches under Dhoni’s steward leadership.

Dhoni stepped down as India’s captain in 2017 and continued to play till the 2019 World Cup in England before retiring from all formats in 2020. He is still leading Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021: MS Dhoni Roped In As India’s Mentor For The Tournament