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On 15th August 2020, MS Dhoni announced his retirement, breaking millions of hearts. Suresh Raina also retired the same day.
Suresh Raina (L) and MS Dhoni (R) in CSK’s old training kit
15th August, 2020 – that Independence Day was completely different from any other celebrated in the past or thereafter. People were confined in their homes, scared of COVID-19. The streets were far from crowded, but the sense of patriotism prevailed with a hope that the pandemic would end soon.
But in the evening, something unexpected unfolded. An Instagram post from MS Dhoni, who is the least active celebrity on social media, broke a million hearts. The former Indian captain announced his retirement in what was the most casual way to do it. A collage of his photos from the field, an old Bollywood song playing in the background and a straightforward message in the caption that read,
“Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.”
How on earth a cricketer, who led India to twin World Cup glories, won the Test mace and redefined the art of wicketkeeping, would bid adieu to the game this easily? This was beyond the understanding of cricket fans. And before they could gather themselves together, another retirement news shook the cricketing world.
All-rounder Suresh Raina, one of Dhoni’s closest friends, also drew curtains on his illustrious career on the same day.
“It was nothing but lovely playing with you, MS Dhoni. With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you in this journey. Thank you India. Jai Hind,” read a social media post from Raina.
Later in 2022, Raina decided to retire from “all formats of cricket.” The former India all-rounder was last seen in an Indian Premier League (IPL) game in October 2021. Raina had won four IPL titles with the Chennai Super Kings. For India, he featured in 226 ODIs, 78 T20Is and 18 Tests.
MS Dhoni remains an active force in the IPL, even as speculation about his retirement intensifies with the conclusion of each season. True to his nature, the legend — celebrated for his wit and calm demeanour — has perfected the art of keeping fans guessing.
The only captain in history to have won all three ICC trophies, Dhoni continues to showcase his skills in the IPL. With five Indian Premier League titles to his name, he stands as one of the most successful skippers in the competition’s history. Under his leadership, Chennai Super Kings clinched their fifth IPL crown last year. Dhoni also guided Team India to the top of the ICC Test rankings during his captaincy tenure.
Dhoni was last seen in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. He scored a gritty 50 off 72 balls before being run out by a stunning direct hit from Martin Guptill — a moment that ultimately sealed India’s defeat and led to their exit.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dhoni represented India in 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20Is. In the shortest format, he maintained an impressive strike rate of 126.13, while in ODIs, he boasted a remarkable batting average of 50.57 — a testament to his consistency and match-winning ability.
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had …Read More
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had … Read More
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