The esteemed former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player, who retired from IPL cricket after the 2022 season, might step into the shoes of his ex-India teammate Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir recently departed from the Lucknow franchise after serving as a significant mentor for two years, opting to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a similar capacity.

Given Raina’s immense popularity as a native of Uttar Pradesh, speculation has been rampant that he could emerge as the fresh face for the Lucknow franchise in a mentorship role.

Raina added fuel to the speculation this weekend during an intriguing exchange with a well-known journalist on Twitter. The journalist dismissed a fan’s assertion about Raina joining the LSG setup, branding it as unfounded. However, just as fans were beginning to accept the journalist’s viewpoint, Raina intervened, suggesting that the journalist might not always be correct.

This subtle hint implied Raina’s potential association with the Lucknow franchise as a team mentor for IPL 2024, possibly filling the void left by Gambhir in the support staff. The team is currently undergoing a coaching transition under the guidance of new head coach Justin Langer.

Suresh Raina, the former Indian cricketer and one of the most successful batters for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is set to be part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 auction. The auction, scheduled for June 14, will feature Raina among the players whose names will be up for bidding.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently released a list of international and domestic cricketers who will be auctioned off for the five-team tournament, set to commence on July 31.

Raina, known for his solid batting skills at the top of the order, has been a consistent performer in the IPL, featuring in every season from 2008 to 2021, except for 2020 when he opted out due to COVID-19 concerns. With over 5500 runs in 205 IPL games, including an unbeaten century, Raina has showcased his prowess as a key player for CSK and Gujarat Lions in the IPL, as well as Uttar Pradesh in domestic tournaments.

After announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2022, Raina participated in the Legends League Cricket earlier this year. The 36-year-old is highly regarded in Indian cricket, having played a crucial role in CSK’s title victories in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. He served as CSK’s vice-captain and remains the team’s leading run-scorer, amassing 4,687 runs in 176 matches. Raina also led the Gujarat Lions to the top of the points table during their inaugural seasons in 2016 and 2017.

BCCI rules state that a player must retire from all forms of competitive domestic cricket to participate in franchise leagues abroad. Notable Indian cricketers like Irfan Pathan have previously played in the Lanka Premier League, representing the Kandy Tuskers in the inaugural season in 2020. Additionally, former India U-19 cricketers Unmukt Chand and Harmeet Singh have retired from domestic cricket to pursue opportunities in the United States.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni ended his international career on the evening of August 15, 2020. After some time, Suresh Raina also announced that he would forever hang up the national team jersey. The sudden demise of two stars of Indian cricket on the same day was surprising. Raina himself revealed it after two and a half years.

In an interview with Sports Talk, Raina revealed the reason behind his retirement from Dhoni, which is shocking. The left-handed batsman said he played first for Dhoni, then for the country. Raina was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s long-time deputy at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Their chemistry in the national team was also talkable. Raina is on par with Dhoni in dominating world cricket.
Raina did not think twice about following the path of the legendary captain, ‘We have played many matches together. I was lucky to play with him for India and CSK. We got a lot of love.

I am from Ghaziabad, Dhoni is from Ranchi. I used to play for Dhoni, then for the country. That is the connection (retirement together).’ Raina also said, ‘We have played many finals, won the World Cup. He is a great leader and a wonderful person.”There were rumors of a rivalry with the former Indian captain during the Covid-interrupted IPL season.

But no one has said anything publicly about it. Raina last played in IPL in 2021. He announced he to quit all types of cricket if it is not sold in the next season. However Dhoni is playing, this year’s IPL is probably the end of his car

However, he added that he can play in foreign leagues and he is going to start it with the Road Safety World Series. Suresh Raina has not been bought by any team in the mega auction of 2022 IPL.

After getting the NOC from the BCCI, Suresh Raina will be able to play in various leagues in the country and abroad. Before that, Yuvraj Singh played in foreign leagues and he can also participate in leagues organized in the country. Suresh Raina said he has taken the NOC from the UPCA and has also informed BCCI secretary Jay Shah and vice-president Rajeev Shukla about his retirement.

Suresh Raina has confirmed that he will also be a part of the Road Safety World Series starting September 10. He has been training for the past week.

Suresh Raina has played 205 IPL matches. He has been approached for the T20 League of South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. He could play for the team bought by CSK’s parent company India Cements in South Africa’s new T20 league.