Suresh Raina MS Dhoni for CSK. Image Credits: AFP
Suresh Raina, the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning Indian cricketer, has revealed the reason for his retirement from international cricket. Suresh Raina had called time on his India career on August 15, 2020, a few hours after legendary MS Dhoni had announced retirement from international cricket.
Raina had last played for India in the 2018 ODI series in England, and his last appearance in the Indian Premier League came in 2021, when CSK won the tournament in Dubai. However, the Chennai Super Kings released him after the tournament, and when he went unsold in the IPL 2022 auction, Raina decided to call time on his IPL career as well.
Suresh Raina reveals that MS Dhoni’s retirement was not the reason behind his retirement
Suresh Raina had an amazing career for the Indian team, having made his Men in Blue debut in 2005. He is also one of the handful of Indian cricketers who made a century on their Test debut, a feat he achieved against Sri Lanka in 2010.
However, towards the end of his career, Suresh Raina struggled with form and fitness and remained in and out of the Indian XI. There was also a change in captaincy during that tenure, as MS Dhoni had stepped down as white-ball captain in 2017 and Virat Kohli had taken over.
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Mother’s illness and health issues led to Suresh Raina announcing his retirement from cricket
In an exclusive interview with Aakash Chopra on Baith and Bol powered by CREX, Suresh Raina was asked why he had called time on his India career and about his last few years in international cricket.
“When I was in CSK, my father was very ill; he was going through a tough phase. My mother was very attached to my father, and when he was no more, I understood it was time for me to step away from cricket and look after my mother,” Raina told Aakash Chopra on Baith and Bol powered by CREX.
He also credited his wife for the support he got, as she looked after the kids in this turbulent time and called her independent.
“I wanted to spend time with my daughter, take her to school, and bring her back. I make food for her, and I have no regrets when it comes to calling time on my career. Stay happy, stay healthy, my mother is healthy,” Suresh Raina added.
Watch the video below:
Suresh Raina’s brilliant India career
Suresh Raina had a short Test career, scoring 768 runs in 18 Tests with one century and 7 fifties, with the best score of 120 and an average of 26.48. He was more successful in ODI and T20I formats. Raina played 226 ODIs and 78 T20Is for India.
Raina made 5615 runs in ODIs, at an average of 35.51, with 5 centuries and 36 fifties, with the best score of 116*. In T20Is, Raina made 1605 runs at a strike rate of 134.87 with one century and 5 fifties and the best score of 101.
Raina was the first Indian to score a century in the ICC T20 World Cup, a feat he achieved in the 2010 T20 World Cup against the West Indies. He was also the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats—tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
He was also prolific in IPL, acquiring the moniker of "Mr. IPL." He was the vice-captain of CSK and made 5528 runs in 205 games with a strike rate of 136.73, hitting one century and 39 fifties. He also hit 506 fours and 203 sixes. He won the IPL in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021 with Chennai Super Kings. Raina captained CSK and Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League.
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