"When I and MS Dhoni were playing for India, we used to cancel Shoots"- Suresh Raina

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Suresh Raina heaped praise on MS Dhoni for his dedication in preparation ahead of IPL 2025. The left-handed batter revealed that he and Dhoni canceled commercial shoots in the past to train in Chennai before the season.

Chennai Super Kings retained MS Dhoni as an 'uncapped player' for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The wicketkeeper-batter hasn't played competitive cricket since IPL 2024. Dhoni played as a finisher last season, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of over 220 while being dismissed only three times.

We Cancelled Shoots to Go to Chennai - Suresh Raina on Dhoni

Speaking to India Today, Suresh Raina highlighted MS Dhoni’s unwavering commitment to pre-season training. Raina revealed that Dhoni preferred to arrive in Chennai a month before the IPL to train. He recalled that they canceled shoots to focus on intense practice sessions.

“I will tell you one secret. Everyone talks about his fitness, his wicketkeeping skills, and his captaincy. But not many have noticed how much power he generates from his bat lift. He always emphasized going to Chennai one month prior to the season,” Raina said.

"When I was playing for India and CSK, we made sure we canceled shoots to go to Chennai. We batted for three hours every day. Every week, we used to practice for four to five days. Then, in the remaining two days, we would do match simulations. On those rough pitches, we used to play spinners,” he added.

This Year Too, We Will See Thala’s Helicopters - Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina recalled Dhoni’s six-hitting prowess from last season. He expressed confidence in Dhoni’s ability to continue delivering strong performances for Chennai Super Kings. Raina hinted that fans could witness more of his signature helicopter shots.

“Last year, he hit many sixes. He looks very strong, and he is very, very determined to perform for CSK. The team looks very strong from one to six. He will get two or three overs. I think this year too, we will see Thala’s helicopters,” Raina said.

Dhoni and Raina were key figures for Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2021. They were part of four IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. Dhoni later led CSK to their fifth championship in 2023 before stepping down as captain ahead of the 2024 season.

Suresh Raina Shares His Thoughts on Chennai Super Kings' Spin Department

Suresh Raina said that Chennai Super Kings have a strong spin department, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad. Raina also added the trio would provide CSK with 12 overs of spin.

“Jadeja has won the Champions Trophy. Ashwin is the local boy. He will have a lot of local support from the Chennai fans. He really wants to finish strong with CSK and he is a strong character. He can bowl in the powerplay, he can bowl in the middle overs. Then, you have Jadeja and Noor Ahmed. They have 12 overs of high-quality spin," said Raina.

Chennai Super Kings will begin their IPL 2025 campaign with a high-profile clash against their arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians (MI). The match is scheduled to take place at CSK’s home ground on Sunday, March 23.

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