MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina have both announced their retirement from international cricket with India.
Superstar Dhoni was the first to make the announcement on Saturday 15th August with an Instagram post.
Raina followed later as both Chennai Super Kings team-mates called time on their India careers on the same day.
Former India skipper Dhoni guided his country during its most successful spell. This included the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
He also won 55% of the games he captained after taking over the role from Rahul Dravid in 2007.
His post read: “Thanks a lot for your love and support throughout. From 19:29hrs consider me as retired.”
On Dhoni’s retirement, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said: “It is the end of an era. What a player he has been for the country and world cricket.
“His leadership qualities have been something which will be hard to match, especially in the shorter format of the game.
“His batting in one-day cricket in his early stages made the world stand up and notice his flair and sheer natural brilliance.
“Every good thing comes to an end and this has been an absolutely brilliant one.”
Raina followed Dhoni into retirement
Raina, meanwhile, was the first Indian cricketer to score a T20I century and so the first Indian to register hundreds in all three international formats.
He played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 T20Is and scored 768, 5,615 and 1,605 runs in those formats respectively. He also bagged 36 ODI wickets in his 13 years at the top level of the game, as well as 13 in Tests and 13 in T20Is.
His Instagram post read: “It was nothing but lovely playing with you, @mahi7781 . With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you in this journey. Thank you India. Jai Hind!”
Despite calling time on their international careers, both Raina and Dhoni are expected to return to action for CSK when the IPL starts again on September 19.
