A player like Dhoni should always be respected, says Raina

“I was disappointed. He has done so well for the country as well as for the IPL teams. He should be respected every time. It’s about not me saying, it’s the world saying,” Raina told PTI.

Dhoni has so far scored only 61 runs in five games with a strike-rate of 87 and that has invited criticism from all quarters. “Having shared the dressing room with him (for India and CSK), you know what goes through when one faces hardships. He (Dhoni) should be respected as a player. In any profession, be it a player or a journalist, you need to be respected. Even a player, however short his career span may be, wants to earn respect.” 

Asked whether it’s affecting Dhoni, he said: “I don’t think. He’s back among runs. Hope he will do well better after twothree matches. We have only played five matches. After sometime the picture will be clear. He should bat up the order and bat long. He’s a world class finisher.”

Raina termed his eight-year stint with CSK as the “best experience”. “The time I spent with Chennai Super Kings will always remain special. We have won so many trophies, be it IPL or Champions League T20. When I was very young, it gave me a great learning opportunity by being among all the legends,” Raina, who was the man-of-thematch in their maiden IPL win over Mumbai Indians in 2010, said. 

Raina has picked Kerala pacer Basil Thampi and Jharkhand batsman Ishan Kishan as two special talents who would go on to play for India. “He (Thampi) knows what he has to do on the match day as well as in practice. He has done really well in first-class cricket. He may get a look-in into the Indian team. He works really hard.”

“Ishan Kishan is also a very bright prospect for the Indian team. Both have done well so far. No 7 is such a crucial position, where you have pressure to finish a game. He comes from the same place as Dhoni bhai. He has played with him. I’ve seen him for last two years. He got a good attitude. I want him to play for India,” Raina said. 

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