Suresh Raina had suffered a career-threatening knee injury during 2007 Deodhar Trophy.
Former India batsman Suresh Raina looked back at the year 2007 when a career-threatening injury almost took away his feel for cricket. Raina revealed it was ex-India captain MS Dhoni who used to check on him regularly.
Raina had sustained a knee injury during the 2007 Deodhar Trophy while playing for Central Zone. It was a tough time for him and Dhoni stayed in touch with the then youngster.
They continue to share a very good camaraderie after playing together for over a decade. Raina has played under the captaincy of Dhoni for India and Chennai Super Kings in IPL.
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Speaking to News24 Sports, Raina said, "When I was injured in 2007, he only told me that you're too young to have surgery. Just take your time. He wasn't even the captain then but he was telling me things.
"I did not play for one and a half years due to the knee injury and every second day he was checking on me, asking me what did the doctors say and what is the solution."
Raina was bedridden for six months due to a knee injury and it was difficult for him to make a comeback. The injury forced him to follow the 2007 T20 World Cup from home. He was in doubt of his future with Indian cricket, but Dhoni's faith in him inspired him.
"As a player, teammate, brother, he was always very keen to know. So that really inspired me that I would represent India soon. I thought I needed to work hard on my game, my knee. I didn't know if I would ever play for India again," the former India batsman added.
(With News24 Sports Inputs)