SL vs BAN : Suresh Raina’s heartfelt message for Angelo Mathews on his retirement

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As the cricketing world prepares to bid farewell to one of the finest all-rounders of the last decade, veteran Angelo Mathews, former Indian batter Suresh Raina has shared a heartfelt message for his longtime friend and on-field rival. The two have faced each other on numerous high-stakes occasions, building mutual respect through intense battles and shared moments in international cricket.

In a video, which is getting viral on social media, Raina extended warm wishes to Mathews, calling him a great ambassador for the Sri Lankan team and praising his illustrious career. He expressed that it had been a pleasure sharing the field with Mathews, highlighting the all-rounder’s role as both a player and a captain. Raina also wished him happiness and success in his post-retirement journey, appreciating the impact Mathews had made on the game and the respect he earned throughout his career.

“Hi Angelo, how are you brother? Lot’s of love and happiness. You have been a great great ambassador for the Sri Lankan team and it was a pleasure playing with you. You have been a great great player and a great captain for the Sri Lankan team and i have enjoyed playing with you and have a wonderful career after that,” Raina said.

Also WATCH: Rohit Sharma’s moving message to Angelo Mathews ahead of his farewell Test

Raina also reflected on the joy of post-retirement life, mentioning how much fun it is to spend time with family and kids. He warmly encouraged Mathews to embrace this new chapter with the same spirit and wished him all the best for his future endeavours.

“We all got retired now it’s lot of fun now with the kids. I hope you will do the same and all the best for your future endeavours. Lots of love brother,” Raina added.

🇱🇰🏏⚾ Angelo Mathews' Test Retirement: Best Wishes from Former Indian Test Cricketer @ImRaina#sportspavilionlk #AngeloMathews #danushkaaravinda #sureshraina #SLvBAN #SLvsBAN

— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) June 17, 2025

Mathews has been a backbone of Sri Lankan cricket for over a decade. Known for his technically sound batting and powerful strokeplay, he has represented Sri Lanka in more than 430 matches across all formats. The right-hander has amassed 16,477 international runs, including 19 centuries. In addition to his batting display Mathews has contributed significantly with the ball, taking over 200 wickets.

His standout performances came in Test cricket, where the 38-year-old scored 8,167 runs, including 16 centuries. Maintaining a remarkable average of 45 in the game’s longest and most challenging format, Mathews showcased consistency, resilience, and class throughout his career — a true testament to his all-round abilities and importance to Sri Lankan cricket.

Also READ: Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews announces retirement from Test cricket