Cricketer Suresh Raina receives Honorary Doctorate from Chennai’s Vels University

Chennai: One of Indian cricket’s most loved legends Suresh Raina was on Friday given Honorary Doctorate at the 12th Convocation of Vels Institute of Science and Technology and Advanced Studies.

The south paw, who has played 205 games in the IPL, has scored 5,528 runs in that time, having played for the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings every season, apart from 2016-17 when he turned out for the Gujarat Lions as their captain, continuing to score plenty of runs for them as well.

Raina, who is known as Mr IPL, has scored the most runs as a batter for the CSK franchise in the history of the IPL.

Known as ‘Chinna Thala’ by the CSK fans, Raina, who has also won the Champions League T20 and the ICC Champions Trophy was felicitated by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at the Convocation.

Speaking on the occasion, the four-time IPL winner with CSK and ODI World Cup winner in 2011, Raina said, “Receiving this honorary doctorate is a very big moment for me, not only because I am here at this outstanding institution but also due to the love the people of Chennai have shown to me over the years."

"This city is like home for me and there’s nothing that compares with the connect I have with the fans over here”, he said. (UNI)