Raina's Witty Retirement Response Leaves Commentary Box in Stitches

Suresh Raina's Witty Response to Retirement Query Sparks Laughter

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina showcased his quick wit during the Qualifier 1 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. While providing Hindi commentary for Jio Cinema, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra inquired if Raina had any plans to reconsider his retirement, given his relatively young age of 37.

Raina's response was met with laughter in the commentary box. "Suresh Raina hu, Shahid Afridi nahi" (I am Suresh Raina, not Shahid Afridi), he quipped, referencing the multiple retirements of former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Raina announced his retirement from international cricket alongside MS Dhoni in 2020 and from the IPL after the 2021 season, when CSK won their fourth title. Since then, he has been actively involved in commentary.

Recently, Raina shared a heartwarming moment with former India teammate Virat Kohli during an interaction on JioCinema at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of an IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and CSK. The meeting recalled a pivotal moment in Kohli's early career during the 2008 Emerging Players Tournament in Australia.

Initially left out of the playing XI by coach Pravin Amre, Kohli was recommended by Raina after witnessing his potential in the nets. Kohli recounted, "Raina saw me playing in the nets and asked Amre sir why I wasn't playing. Raina insisted I should be played, so I got a chance to open against New Zealand and scored 120 not out. This probably convinced Dilip Vengsarkar sir, the selector. I scored 120 not out, and he probably decided then and there that I should be given further opportunities," acknowledging Raina's role in his early career.

Raina's witty response and his contribution to Virat Kohli's career highlight his enduring presence in the cricketing world, even after his retirement from playing.

Tags: #SureshRaina, #Retirement, #KKRvsSRH, #AakashChopra, #ViratKohli