D.R.S — The Dhoni-Raina Syndicate
The year 1929 is remembered for the Wall Street Crash. The share prices on the New York Stock Exchange sank, and it marked the beginning of the Great Depression. Ninety-one years later, on 15th August 2020 at 19:29 hrs many hearts sank when the charismatic M.S. Dhoni announced his retirement from International cricket. Suresh Raina followed his leader’s footsteps and announced his retirement as well. The figure 1929 in a way marks the beginning of the abyss which is challenging to fill in. Times such as these compel us to remember the good times gone by.
Dhoni and Raina together have left a legacy of their own for us. The partnerships, the quick singles, taking twos when even a single was not possible, and most importantly the understanding and the friendship that they shared. Talking about friendships, Raina was Robin to Dhoni’s Batman, Circuit to Dhoni’s Munna, they complimented each other quite perfectly.
Dhoni and Raina share 4,354 partnership runs across formats in 101 innings at an average of 48.38. 3,585 of those runs have been aggregated in One Day Internationals (ODIs.) This is my small effort to pay tribute to their bond through numbers.
M.S. Dhoni (MSD) has had partnerships with 61 batsmen in his 297 ODI innings and Suresh Raina (SKR) with 31 batsmen in 194 innings. They have the highest partnership runs of 3,585 runs with each other. Dhoni has partnership runs of more than 3,000 with Suresh Raina (3,585 runs) and Yuvraj Singh (3,105 at an avg of 51.75) while Suresh Raina has partnership runs of more than 3,000 only with MS Dhoni (2,238 with Virat Kohli at an avg of 58.89.) Dhoni has always been touted as India’s best ODI finisher, but a lesser-known fact is that India has never lost an ODI when Raina remained unbeaten. Of the 35 times Raina has remained unbeaten, India has won 33 times, and two times match was abandoned due to rain. Further, of the five ODI centuries scored by Raina, 3 of them have come while in partnership with Dhoni.
They have a higher average and partnership runs away as compared to home. So when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
The English were not able to figure out how to break their partnership as they have scored maximum partnership runs of 1,019 in 18 innings against them at an average of 56.61. May be they could have taken some tips from the Proteas who have given away only 148 runs to them in 7 innings at an average of 21.14 and have been able to send them back to the pavilion every single time. Details of runs scored against opponents:
Trivia: Together they have scored the exact same number of partnership runs of 282 and also have the exact same average of 94.00 at RPS stadium Colombo and at National Stadium, Karachi.
India has won 16 out of the 17 matches while chasing when either of them remained unbeaten. The only time India lost when either of them remained unbeaten was against Pakistan in Kolkata, 2013 as India were all out for 165. Combinations of them being out or not — out in first and second innings:
Cometh the hour, cometh the men. They average higher at big stages like Asia Cup (96.00) and ICC Cricket World Cup (84.67). Runs scored by tournament:
In their first-ever partnership in the year 2005, they put together an unbeaten 82. Suresh Raina’s individual score of 39* was also his then highest score in 4 innings. Year-wise partnership runs:
Almost 68% of their partnership runs have been scored for the 5th wicket. They average their best for 4th wicket partnership in the first innings and the 6th wicket in the second innings. Wicket-wise partnership runs:
Partnership in trying times:
Out of the 73 ODI partnership they had, 21 times they came in to bat when India had lost 3 or more wickets for less than a score of 100 runs. They have put together 1,080 runs in those innings at an average of 56.84. So, almost one-third of their partnership runs have been aggregated during tough times. So whenever there is a bat signal on the scoreboard, you know Batman and Robin are at it.
Chasing a target of 230 against England at Faridabad, India were reduced to 92 for 5. Dhoni and Raina built a partnership of 118 runs and helped India win the game by 4 wickets. Suresh Raina was adjudged Man of the Match for his contribution of 81.
Batting first against Srilanka, India opened with Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Virat made a half-century but soon departed leaving India at 81 for 3. The left-hand right hand scored 143 runs together and helped India reach a respectable total of 258. Chaminda Vas’s 400th wicket celebration went in vain as Srilanka lost the match by 46 runs. Suresh Raina was again the Man of the Match for his innings of 76 runs.
In the 3rd ODI of a series marking a come-back of the India-Pakistan bilateral series in new Delhi, 2013, India batted first and were struggling at 63 for 4. Dhoni and Raina built a partnership of 48 runs and helped India reach a total of 167. The match turned out to be a low scoring thriller with India ultimately winning by 10 runs. MS Dhoni was adjudged Man of the Match for his important contribution of 36 runs.
However, their most famous partnership to date remains against Zimbabwe at Auckland in the ODI World Cup of 2015. Chasing a difficult 288, India were reduced to 92 for 4 and were on the verge of another World Cup upset until Dhoni and Raina decided against it. Initially taking their time and then accelerating later on, they scored an unbeaten 196 runs together and helped India chase the target of 288 runs with 8 balls to spare. Man of the Match Suresh Raina scored an unbeaten 110. This was their first and only partnership against Zimbabwe.
These stats by no means quantify the bond between the two, but they sure do set an example of trust and getting back to work when things go South. The South-Paw and the Midas man remain the best partnership India has ever witnessed.
You can also witness top 5 ODI knocks of MSD here
