On the evening of August 15, 2020, former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni shocked fans with a sudden Instagram post announcing his retirement from international cricket. While there had been rumors about Dhoni ending his India career, many thought the legendary wicketkeeper-batter might return to the Indian team once cricket resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to all cricketing action.
Approximately 30 minutes after Dhoni’s retirement announcement, fans were taken by surprise once again when Suresh Raina, then 33 years old and a key player for the Chennai Super Kings, also announced his retirement from international cricket. Raina was not in favor with the Indian team at the time, with his last appearance for the side in an ODI against England in 2018.
Raina’s early retirement stunned fans. Over two years after the event, he revealed the reasons behind his international retirement in an interview with Sports Tak. He was asked about the timing of his retirement, which came shortly after Dhoni’s announcement.
Raina spoke fondly of his connection with Dhoni during the interview. “We played many games together, both for India and Chennai Super Kings. We received a lot of love from fans. I’m from Ghaziabad and he’s from Ranchi, but we played for each other and for our country. We shared many successful moments, including winning the World Cup, and he’s an amazing leader and person,” Raina said when asked about the reason for their joint retirement.
In 2021, Raina played his final season in the Indian Premier League before retiring from the league too. Despite registering for the 2022 IPL mega auction with a base price of INR 2 crore, he failed to attract any bidders.
Raina was a crucial player in India’s victory at the 2011 World Cup, offering crucial support in the lower-middle order. He played a total of 18 Tests, 226 One Day Internationals, and 78 T20 Internationals throughout a 13-year international career.