Suresh Raina Reveals How MS Dhoni Supported Him During A Very Serious Phase Of His Career

MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina made their India ODI debuts within a year’s difference. Dhoni made his debut against Bangladesh in 2004 and Raina made his against Sri Lanka in 2005 and since then the two have been fast friends.

This friendship got even tighter when Raina was bought by MS Dhoni’s Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the inaugural auction in 2008. Since then the two have been virtually inseparable and Raina was the first to know about the birth of Dhoni’s daughter Ziva as well, as the duo was in Australia at that time.

Dhoni also told Raina that he was retiring from Test cricket in 2015 before anyone else and two have a selfie with tears visible in both of their eyes. Therefore it was a given that they cared for each other and Raina has recalled a terrible phase of his career when Dhoni was there for him.

When I Was Injured In 2007, He Only Told Me That You’re Too Young To Have A Surgery. Just Take Your Time: Suresh Raina On MS Dhoni

In an interaction with News24 Sports, Raina revealed how Dhoni supported him during a very serious phase of his career. The phase was when Suresh Raina injured his knee badly and was out of contention for more than a year. He missed the 2007 World Cup and the T20 World Cup events that year as well as the tour of Australia where India won their maiden tri-series.

“When I was injured in 2007, he only told me that you’re too young to have a surgery. Just take your time. He wasn’t even the captain then but he was telling me things. I did not play for one and a half years due to the knee injury and every second day he was checking on me, asking me what did the doctors say and what is the solution,” Raina said.

Raina received support from everyone – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, the BCCI among others – but the former India batsman revealed it was Dhoni, who was there for him almost the entire time.

“As a player, teammate, brother, he was always very keen to know. So that really inspired me that I would represent India soon. I thought I needed to work hard on my game, my knee. I didn’t know if I would ever play for India again,” the former India batsman added.

Not only this, but when MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, Suresh Raina followed suit and announced his retirement as well, despite being only 33. He has also said that if MS Dhoni stops playing in the IPL, he would also retire from the T20 league as well.

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