India cricketer Suresh Raina, who announced his retirement from international cricket along with Mahendra Singh Dhoni on August 15, shared a letter he received from Narendra Modi, thanking him for his contribution to making the country a “leader in sports” and “inspiring young minds”.
Congratulating Raina on an “extremely fruitful innings” on the field, the PM wrote that he didn’t want to use the word retirement as the cricketer is “way too young and energetic to ‘retire’.”
“You have lived and breathed cricket,” he wrote.
Raina shared the letter addressed to him from the prime minister’s office on his social media accounts and thanked PM Modi for his appreciation and wishes.
“When we play, we give our blood & sweat for the nation. No better appreciation than being loved by the people of this country and even more by the country’s PM. Thank you @narendramodi ji for your words of appreciation & best wishes. I accept them with gratitude. Jai Hind!” Raina wrote while sharing the post.
This comes a day after Raina’s Chennai Super Kings captain M.S. Dhoni also shared a letter the PM wrote to him, highlighting the achievements of the former India skipper, saying the right way to assess his impact on Indian cricket is as a phenomenon.
The prime minister wrote that Raina will be remembered by generations not only as a batsman but also a “useful bowler”.
“Generations will remember you not only as a fine batsman but also as a very useful bowler who the captain could turn to when the situation demanded,” PM Modi wrote in the letter. “Your fielding was exemplary and inspiring. Some of the best catches in recent international cricket have your distinctive imprint. It would take days to count just the number of runs you have saved with your alertness on field.”
He also noted Raina’s ability to face and overcome setbacks in his career.
“Your fighting spirit can motivate many youngsters. During your cricketing career, you sometimes faced setbacks including injuries but every time you overcame these challenges, thanks to your tenacity. At the same time, Suresh Raina will always be synonymous with team spirit. You played not for personal glory but for the glory of your team and the glory of India,” Modi wrote.
The PM also sent his good wishes to Raina’s family.
