During his illustrious journey, Suresh Raina emerged as a vital player for the Indian cricket team. With his exceptional cricketing skills and aggressive approach, he consistently scored runs at a remarkable pace. His ability to withstand pressure and deliver impactful performances in the middle order was instrumental in Team India’s success on numerous occasions.
In addition to his national contributions, Raina proved to be a clutch player for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). This earned him the well-deserved nickname of “Mr IPL.” CSK greatly benefited from his presence in the batting lineup, and it’s worth noting that Raina became the first cricketer ever to amass 5,000 runs in the IPL.
Raina’s association with CSK was highly fruitful, as evidenced by their four IPL trophy victories. On certain occasions, he even took on the responsibility of leading both CSK and the Indian team in the absence of the regular captains. Despite receiving offers from various IPL teams, Raina, who spent over 13 years at CSK, revealed the reason behind his decision to stay loyal to the franchise.
Suresh Raina, a decorated Indian cricketer who claimed victory in the ICC ODI World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy, has recently shed light on MS Dhoni’s response when he was approached by other IPL teams with leadership opportunities. Despite receiving offers from several teams, Raina revealed that Dhoni consistently urged him not to venture elsewhere.
Suresh Raina, known for his strong bond with MS Dhoni, made the decision to remain at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and serve as Dhoni’s deputy. In an interview with cricket expert Aakash Chopra on JioCinema’s show Home of Heroes, the former CSK stalwart revealed that Dhoni would often advise him not to explore opportunities elsewhere, emphasizing their roles as captain and vice-captain.
This display of loyalty to both MS Dhoni and CSK is evident in Raina’s choice to decline captaincy offers from other IPL teams. Even to this day, Raina holds the distinction of being CSK’s highest run-scorer in the IPL, accumulating an impressive 4,665 runs across 170 innings for the yellow army. As an experienced campaigner, Raina has left an indelible mark on the franchise.