Former Indian cricketers MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina played in the same team for many years and won multiple matches together. They were teammates at Team India as well as the Chennai Super Kings, and they share a great bond of friendship and mutual respect for each other. Their bond was so strong that when Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, Raina also called time on his playing career for Team India. Raina was just 33 back then and had a lot of time ahead of him, but he chose to make way for the next generation.
While Dhoni still plies his trade in the IPL and represents CSK, Raina was not picked by any franchise last year and has retired from all forms of the game. He is playing in the exhibition Legends League Cricket matches in Doha these days, whereas Dhoni is spending long hours at the nets in Chennai to step up his preparations for IPL 2023.
Ahead of the start of IPL 2023, Raina, who is part of an expert panel for Jio Cinema, was asked about the biggest advice he ever received from Dhoni during their time together, which he cherishes the most, and in response, he said Dhoni told him to be a better person.
I think he always nurtures the talent, especially all the Indian boys. And he always said, play the game, play the game with a good spirit, and be a good human being. That’s all I have learned from him. And you can be a good player, but having good human beings around yourself and being a good person and that really counts in your life. And you can be a good person all across.”
Raina was Dhoni’s deputy till the time he was associated with the CSK franchise. He was also asked about the future captaincy candidate for CSK after Dhoni, and he surprisingly snubbed England Test captain Ben Stokes to pick opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.
