Colombo: Suresh Raina, a renowned former cricketer from India and a key player for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been included in the list of players set to be auctioned during the upcoming Lanka Premier League 2023. The auction is scheduled to take place on June 14th, and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has released the names of both international and domestic cricketers who will participate in the five-team tournament starting on July 31st.
With Raina's impressive batting skills and ability to consistently score runs, especially at the top of the order, he has been a prominent figure in the IPL, participating in every season from 2008 to 2021, except for 2020 due to his return to India amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout his IPL career, Raina has played 205 matches, amassing over 5500 runs, including an unbeaten century.
Having represented the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Gujarat Lions in the IPL, Raina has also been a valuable asset for his domestic team, Uttar Pradesh. However, in order to participate in franchise leagues in other countries, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requires players to formally retire from all forms of competitive domestic cricket.
Interestingly, other players such as Unmukt Chand and Harmeet Singh, who were part of the Indian Under-19 cricket team, have also retired from domestic cricket to pursue opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States. Unmukt Chand has already played in the Big Bash League, showcasing his talent on the international stage.
After announcing his retirement from the BCCI, Raina has worked as a commentator and as an expert panelist on various news channels. He has also used the time to spend time with his family and enjoy a bit of a golf when he hasn't been involved with his punditry commitments. He shared a video on his Twitter recently.
The left-handed would now look to make an impact in the LPL which will in turn in crease his demand not only in the subsequent seasons of the league but also in other franchise leagues around the world.
(With Inputs From PTI)