'It felt like we were playing the Kanga League of my neighborhood' - Suresh Raina shares hilarious anecdotes involving MS Dhoni

Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni share a special bond among themselves that always fascinates the cricket on-lookers. After playing with each other for such a long period of time, it goes without saying that they must have had some memorable cricketing moments from on and off-field. Raina has yet again opened up about some of the cherished instances from the past.

The duo of Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni has played the major part of the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings. However, in 2016 and 2017 Raina was the captain of the Gujarat Lions whereas Dhoni was with the Rising Pune Supergiants. Though the duo was in the opposite teams, the fact that they have long-shared friendship made them have a little banter on the field while playing. Raina shared the instance and told that the whole setting was a lot of fun.

“Yes, there were mixed emotions. I remember we were playing in Rajkot and, Ashwin was bowling’ McCullum was at the non-striker end; I was batting; Dhoni Bhai was keeping; Faf du Plessis was standing at first slip. It felt like we were playing the Kanga League of my neighborhood! (chuckles)… When I went in to bat, Dhoni Bhai said, ‘Aao aao captain sahab, aao’, and I said ‘Aare hai are hai bhai, zara peeche ho thoda!’ (I am coming brother, move aside first!). This was all very fun,” Raina said as quoted by Times Now.

When Dhoni carried drinks for Suresh Raina

Watching him play for 16 long years for India, the cricketing fraternity perceives Dhoni as one of the most grounded cricketers. He has always enjoyed doing the little things on and off-field that have portrayed his simplicity. Thus, revealing yet another incident Raina recounted the time when Dhoni carried drinks on the field.

“I think I was batting alongside Rahul and we both had hit the fifties. He (Dhoni) said ‘I won’t come again, it’s very cold out here. (chuckles) I still said, ‘Do one thing, bring a grip as well. And he replied: ‘Bohot bade waala hai tu, tu rukja, paani pi, mai leke aata hu’. So it was that kind of fun. I thought to myself that I’ll take full revenge that day,”

The Raina-Dhoni connect is one that the fans always adore. The fact that Suresh Raina announced his international retirement along with Dhoni further speaks a lot about his sentiments. Recently, Raina also stated that if Dhoni doesn’t play in the IPL next year then he too would hang up his boots from the league.