New Delhi: Suresh Raina, a former Indian batsman, asserted that MS Dhoni was the hardest bowler he had ever encountered in the practise nets.
During their playing careers, Raina and Dhoni forged strong bonds while playing for India and the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The CSK captain is renowned for routinely rolling his arm over in the nets, as was observed prior to this year's IPL.
The fact that Dhoni has a wicket in one-day internationals, he has bowled 96 balls in tests, and nearly got Kevin Pietersen has led to much of funny banter between the two players. Now, Raina has explained why the former Indian captain was the hardest bowler he has ever encountered in the practise nets.
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When asked to name the hardest bowler he had faced on Home of Heroes on JioCinema, the former Indian batter responded that Dhoni was challenging in the practise nets.
According to Raina, the CSK captain would make fun of you if you had approached him and would bowl a wide range of deliveries, from off-spin to medium pace. Dhoni was ready to accept the opportunity to bowl in a Test match, according to Raina, and he was able to swing the ball effectively in England.
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"I think Muralitharan and Malinga, but in the nets, it was MS Dhoni. If he got you out in the nets, then you’d not be able to sit with him for one and a half months because he’d keep gesturing and remind how he got you out. He’d bowl off-spin, medium pace, leg spin, everything. In the nets, he would even justify his front foot no-balls (laughs). Wherever he’d get a red cherry in a Test match, he’d go for it. In England, he’d swing it full throttle," said Raina.