The Camaraderie of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina on the field
2020 has got a very tragic feel to it. This year has been one of the worst in recent times. All aspects of life ranging from business and sports have taken a massive hit. The World has endured a lot and now we are back up on our feet and moving; baby-steps.
Cricket fans received the best news in the past few months when the resumption of the game that we all love, was set into motion. It has been nearly a month since cricket has resumed and we’ve been dealt with a heart-sinking blow.
Indian fans will not see their ace and their beloved captain, MS Dhoni and his comrade, Suresh Raina in International Cricket. The duo announced their retirement on 15th August. It is quite saddening to come to terms that the last time we saw the duo play together in National colours was back in 2018.
Also Read: End of an era: MS Dhoni hangs up his gloves in International Cricket
A bond so deep that it chose to continue beyond the cricket field and beyond their careers. No words can truly express Dhoni’s contributions to Indian cricket and Raina’s finishing grace; whenever the team needed. A perfectly selfless gentleman, Raina was always known to celebrate his partner’s milestones before they even realised their personal achievement.
Suresh Raina will go down as one of the finest gentlemen of the game and the only silver lining of this heart-breaking decision made by the duo is that we will continue to see them in the IPL, together. Together is when they look the best.
On field, Raina and Dhoni showed the levels of understanding few players can have between them and they are to be looked up to. They always justified their camaraderie by notching up several memorable partnerships. Although our heart would sink further if we revisit to the duo complementing each other in their respective National jerseys, these partnerships deserve the recognition that they are meant to get.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (103-run partnership vs West Indies, Roseau, 2011)
This partnership saw proper counterattacking cricket at its best. While Raina’s Test career never really got going as well as his limited overs career did, he still managed to notch up quite a handful of significant performances. One of them came up in this partnership.
Walking in at 172/5, Dhoni and Raina knew that they had a job to be done, if they were to take a significant and a match-winning lead from the Windies. With still trailing the West Indies by 32 runs at the time of their arrival, the duo safely negated the likes of Sammy and Edwards who were on fire that day. They brought up their century stand with a relative ease but Raina, unfortunately, got out upon reaching his fifty.
Also Read: MS Dhoni might be a part of CSK until 2022: Kasi Viswanathan, CSK CEO
India went on to win the game with 7 wickets to spare and had it not been for this partnership, West Indies would’ve probably won the game with ease.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (134-run partnership vs England, Cardiff, 2014 ODI)
2014 was a horrible year for India in England. They were brutally whitewashed in the series by the hosts and there was significant pressure on Dhoni to deliver in the limited overs. The team was in search of a resounding win which would restore the faith of millions in them.
Walking in at 132/4, Raina and Dhoni produced one of the greatest partnerships in World Cricket, worth 144 runs on a track where reaching 250 was looking difficult for the visitors.
Also Read: MS Dhoni: An enigma who revolutionized Indian cricket
Raina notched up a brilliant century off just 75 deliveries which totally changed the tempo of the game and Dhoni played the perfect fiddle to him, reaching 45 off just 44 deliveries at the time of his departure.
India went on to win the game by 133 runs (D/L method) to stamp their authority in the ODI series.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina ( 82-run partnership vs Sri Lanka, Pune, 2005 ODI)
2005 was the time when a young Indian team was trying desperately to find its own feet and it was a young Dhoni who wanted to keep his place in the squad. Moreover, it was early days in Raina’s career. Both the newbies scripted a memorable win for India.
Chasing a target of 262 in an ODI against the Lankans, India started off well but soon found themselves struggling at 6-180 in the 35th over. Now, one would expect an experienced Sri Lankan bowling line-up to quickly clear up the inexperienced lower order of India, but the duo had different views on that subject.
Also Read: Selectors have not communicated well enough: Suresh Raina
With 82 still required of 93 deliveries, Raina walked in at number 6 and played a very sensible brand of cricket alongside Dhoni. Raina notched up 39 runs off 30 deliveries while Dhoni brought up 45 runs off 43 balls.
India won the game by 4 wickets to spare with 26 balls remaining.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (144-run partnership vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2008 ODI)
The bond between Dhoni and Raina was deep enough by now. The duo had gained enough experience as well and together, they could tackle anything that was thrown at them.
Batting first, India were struggling at 81-3 on a hot afternoon at Colombo and setting a decent total for the Lankans was looking tough. Raina walked in at number 4 and Dhoni at 6.
The duo negated the pace attack and middle-overs chokehold demonstrated by the Lankan spinners with ease and brought up their 143-run partnership, a sign of more things to come. That partnership helped India reached 258 which was enough as the Lankans got bowled out for 212.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (110-run partnership vs New Zealand, Napier, 2009 ODI)
It was a rainy day at Napier and India was batting first. The innings had already been cut short by 12 overs and to everyone’s surprise Dhoni walked in at number 3. He was soon joined by Raina as Yuvraj fell early. Raina walked in at 3-131 with more than 15 overs to go.
Also Read: Suresh Raina – An under-appreciated dark horse who thrived in the shadows
That ODI saw a blistering knock of 66 from Raina which came off just 39 deliveries and the Kiwi bowlers saw a nightmare in daytime in Raina’s innings. Dhoni anchored the entire innings with his 89 ball 84*, keeping one end stable.
With further interruptions, the Kiwi were given a target of 216 in 28 overs to which they fell short by 53 runs.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (169-run partnership vs England, Lord’s, 2011, ODI)
This game between India and England was one of the most enticing games played between the two nations post their 2011 ICC CWC group stage tie. This game ended up in another draw following a Ravi Bopara special, but had it not been for the partnership between Dhoni and Raina, the game would have been long over in the second innings.
Walking in 4-110, Dhoni joined his best friend and partner inn Suresh Raina. The duo needed to get a partnership if India was to reach at least a respectable total. Counter attacking cricket flowed from the respective bats of the duo as they stitched a 169-run stand which saw India reach 280 at the end of their 50 overs. Raina scored 83(74) runs in that partnership and Dhoni contributed 77(69) runs.
It was unfortunate that the monumental effort of the duo did not result in an Indian victory. However, it remains as a reminiscent game.
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (196*-run partnership vs Zimbabwe, Auckland, ICC CWC 2015)
India were on course for a World Cup win back in 2015 following their unbeaten run until the semis in which they endured a heart-breaking loss against the hosts, Australia. Their math against Zimbabwe was surprisingly a close-fought one even though India started as the clear favourites.
Zimbabwe raised many eyebrows when they scored a mammoth total of 288, raising a few doubts about a possible upset. Those doubts became stronger when Zimbabwe had India by the neck, with the former World champions reeling at 4-92, with their best batsman Virat Kohli in the hut.
It was at that moment that MS Dhoni joined Raina out there in the middle with a mountain to climb. For the first time in their campaign, India looked vulnerable. With a possible defeat on the cards, Dhoni and Raina decided to display their own views on the matter. The duo stitched an offensive partnership of 196 runs right until the end which saw India home, with 8 balls to spare.
Raina brought up a classy century while Dhoni played the role of the mediator, bringing up 85 off just 76 deliveries.
Dhoni and Raina have been two selfless servants for Indian cricket and their contributions will always be recognised. They have bailed the team out of troublesome situations many-a-time.
While they haven’t retired from cricket as a whole, they will continue to represent CSK in the IPL; which gives us one more reason to celebrate the biggest franchise league in the world. Fondly known as the “Thala” (Dhoni) and “Chinna Thala” (Raina), they will be deeply missed by the Indian National Team.
Dhoni’s understanding of the game will go down as one of the greatest while Raina’s ‘Never Say Die’ spirit will always be used as a source of inspiration by those who will step up to take their roles.
In all totality, we saw this shock announcement coming, from a distance. This also marks the end of the team that represented India between 2000-2010, with Virat Kohli carrying the team forward.
Farewell Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Kumar Raina.
You both will be deeply missed.