The partnerships of Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni for Team India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are considered as part of cricketing folklore. While Raina has retired from all forms of Indian cricker, Dhoni continues to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The World Cup-winning Indian captain is once again gearing up to lead CSK in the IPL this year, starting March 31.

Ahead of the IPL 2023 season, Raina recalled his first meeting with Dhoni, which was in 2004 during a match between the East Zone and the Central Zone.

"We were hearing a lot about a player with long hair from Jharkhand known for hitting it out of the park consistently. This one day, we all were hanging around while Dhoni bhai quietly was eating his roti and butter chicken in a corner. Gyanu bhai saw him and said, ‘I really don’t think he’s going to do us any damage. He’s enjoying his food; let him do that’," said Raina on Jio Cinema.

"From the word go, he hit gagan chumbhi (touching the sky) sixes, and Gyanu bhai had to eat his words," he added.

Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, Chennai Super Kings have lifted the IPL title four times while they have won the Champions League twice.

CSK will open their IPL 2023 campaign against the defending champions Gujarat Titans in the tournament opener on March 31.