Is Suresh Raina Playing IPL 2023?

Dixit Bhargav | 30/03/2023
Is Suresh Raina Playing IPL 2023?

Former India batter Suresh Raina won’t be participating in the imminent 16th season of the Indian Premier League. Raina, whose last IPL participation was registered in the second phase of IPL 2021 in the UAE, hadn’t taken part in the 15th season of the IPL either.

In fact, Raina had made his commentary debut for Star Sports Network in IPL 2022 after remaining unsold in the auction. Veteran India spinner Piyush Chawla and pacer Dhawal Kulkarni were also among debutant IPL commentators last year. Chawla, however, has made it to Mumbai Indians’ squad this season.

As far as Raina is concerned, the left-handed batter has been spotted plying his trade in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, Legends League Cricket and Legends Cricket Trophy in the last year or so.

Having retired from international cricket over 30 months ago, Raina is now eligible to play in all these tournaments. Raina, who was quite vocal in requesting BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to permit non-contracted players to play in overseas T20 leagues, deserves to enjoy his post-retirement life by playing such tournaments with other ex-cricketers.

Is Suresh Raina retired from the IPL?

In addition to his retirement from the highest level, Raina had separately announced his retirement from all formats of cricket including the IPL over six months ago. It is due to the same reason why Raina qualifies to play in the aforementioned leagues without any objection from the BCCI. Now when he has done the same, he can’t return to the IPL much like former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.

Fifth-highest run-scorer in the IPL, Raina’s decorated IPL career started and ended with Chennai Super Kings. An absolute legend of the biggest T20 tournament around the globe, Raina continues to receive immense respect from CSK’s humongous fan-following till date.

Devoted fans of Raina, however, will be able to hear him as a commentator throughout the course of IPL 2023. Readers must note that the 36-year old will be calling the matches in Hindi for Jio Cinema.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
Indian Premier League IPL 2023 Suresh Raina

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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