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Still remember our conversations during your Test debut: Tendulkar on Raina's retirement
As the left-handed batsman, Suresh Raina announced his retirement from international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar lauded the player on a remarkable career.
On Saturday, Raina's announcement to retire came minutes after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bid adieu to international cricket.
"Congratulations, Suresh on a wonderful career playing for India. Still remember our partnership & on-field conversations during your debut Test! Wish you all the very best for your future endeavours," Tendulkar tweeted.
It was on July 30, 2005, when Raina made his debut for the Men in Blue. He went on to make his debut in an ODI match against Sri Lanka at Dambulla.
In his first ODI, Raina did not have a good outing as he was sent back to the pavilion on a duck. But over the years, the left-handed batsman managed to change his fortunes to become one of the finest white-ball cricketers.
Raina is also the first Indian batsman to register centuries in all three formats of the game. The 33-year-old has played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for India. Raina also cemented his place as one of the best fielders ever to play the game for India.
With Raina on the field, the opposition was always reluctant to run when the ball used to go him, and the cricketer rarely missed any catches. Raina, always chirpy and bubbly on the field, has always been a team man.
The left-handed batsman scored 5,615 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 35.31. He also registered 768 runs in the longest format of the game with his highest score being 120.
In the shortest format of the game, Raina scored 1,605 runs at an average of 29.18. He was also a part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad and the batsman had played crucial knocks in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the tournament.