Retired Suresh Raina shares emotional post with video; thanks Dravid, Kumble, Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni

First Published Aug 16, 2020, 5:17 PM IST

Bengaluru: After joining MS Dhoni in international cricket retirement, left-hander Suresh Raina has penned down his thoughts post-retirement and thanked his captains Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He had announced his decision on Saturday (August 15) few minutes after Dhoni quit. Both players took the Instagram route to make their decisions public.

On Sunday (August 16), Raina again took to his Instagram account to write along with a three-minute-plus video highlighting best moments from his international career, and also some from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL.

He started off the post by saying he was retiring with “a lot of mixed feelings” and he had “literally lived cricket”.

“With a lot of mixed feelings I’m able to make this announcement of my retirement. From a very young age, I as a small boy had literally lived Cricket on every street, gali and nukkad of my small town before making it to the Indian team. All I have known is cricket, all I have done is cricket & it runs through my veins. There hasn’t been a single day without counting my blessings & without acknowledging everything I have received from god & my people who showered nothing but love on me,” the 33-year-old Raina wrote.

He continued, “All I strived for was to value those blessings & give my everything in return to my game, to my country & everyone who has been a part of this journey. I had multiple surgeries, setbacks & moments when I felt that this is it but I didn’t stop or settle for anything which was not justified.”

Stating that it was an “incredible ride”, he added, “It's been an incredible ride and it would not have been possible without everyone who supported me during my ups and downs. This journey could not have been possible without the unflinching support and sacrifices of my parents, my loving wife Priyanka, my children Gracia and Rio, my brothers, my sister and all members of our family. This is all you.”

He thanked his coaches, physicians, trainers, teammates. “My Coaches who always showed me the right direction, my Physicians for helping me heal, my trainers for helping me perform at the highest level. My boys in BLUE, nothing would have been possible without the support of the wonderful India Team in blue. I had the pleasure of playing with the best of the very best players and all of them played for Team India. I feel lucky to have played under the captaincy of some of the best minds in the game Rahul Bhai, Anil Bhai, Sachin Paaji, Chiku and especially with @mahi7781 for guiding me as a friend and mentor.”

“Thank you @indiancricketteam and @upcacricket for the all the support and making the dreams of a boy from UP wanting to play for team India come true. And lastly my fans, I am what I am because of the love and adulation that you have showered upon me thru the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone who supported me in playing International Cricket at the highest level. I’ll always be filled with nothing but gratitude. Forever, Team India, Jai Hind,” he signed off.