Picture Credits: Twitter
India's former cricketer Suresh Raina has been grabbing a lot of limelight recently but for all the wrong reasons. Earlier it was reported that the former CSK player would be joining Gujarat Titans as a replacement to England opener Jason Roy, but fresh reports quoting highly placed sources have put all the speculations to rest and cleared that Raina is not being considered for the upcoming IPL season.
Earlier, Raina went unsold in IPL auctions after the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings didn't retain him. However, he was expected to attract few bids during two-day IPL auctions, but the turn of events shocked many.
Suresh Raina unlikely to play in IPL 2022
While none of the franchises showed interest in acquiring his services, even CSK didn't try to bring him back. After England opener Jason Roy recently withdrew from the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, citing bio-bubble fatigue, several reports claimed that Raina may join the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat franchise as a replacement, but fresh reports have proved them wrong.
A Gujarat Titans source reportedly said, "Suresh Raina is not joining Gujarat Titans. He is not even in consideration for the spot." Although this might end the hopes of seeing Raina in IPL, there is no doubt that the 35-year-old remains one of the most decorated names in IPL history.
He remains the fourth-highest run-getter (5,528) in the tournament after Virat Kohli (6283), Rohit Sharma (5784), and Shikhar Dhawan (5611). Raina was part of CSK's title campaign in IPL 2010, 2018 and 2021. He is widely regarded as Mr. IPL for what he has done in the league over the years.
I will be following each game of the Titans: Jason Roy
Speaking about Roy, he had said in a statement, "With very heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this year's IPL. I want to thank the management and captain Hardik for putting faith in me and picking me in the auction." He added further that with everything going on in the world over the last three years, it had added a toll over England's opener.
To cope with the current situation, he decided to rest and spend time with his family. "I will be following each game of the Titans and backing them to lift the trophy in their first year of the tournament," he concluded. Roy was roped in by the Gujarat franchise for INR 2 crores in the mega auction. It will be interesting to see whom the franchise ropes in as his replacement.