Suresh Raina on CSK radar!! To join MS Dhoni in his last IPL season
Published - 30 Aug 2025, 11:52 AM | Updated - 30 Aug 2025, 11:59 AM
Former Team India batter Suresh Raina recently opened up about speculation regarding his return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a coaching role for IPL 2026. Raina revealed that he had approached the Chennai franchise, but the decision cannot be one-sided and would require agreement from both sides.
Michael Hussey has been CSK’s batting coach since 2018. However, their batting unit struggled for consistency in the 2025 season. The five-time IPL champions finished at the bottom of the table for the first time. They signed Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel midway through the tournament.
Suresh Raina’s Golden Run with Chennai Super Kings
Suresh Raina had an illustrious IPL career. He made his IPL debut with Chennai Super Kings in 2008. The southpaw stayed with the franchise until 2015 before captaining the now-defunct Gujarat Lions during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Raina returned to CSK in 2018 and remained with the team until 2021.
The left-handed batter scored 5,528 runs in 205 IPL matches at an average of 32.51 and a strike rate of 136.73, including one century and 39 half-centuries. He also took 25 wickets at an economy rate of 7.38.
For CSK, he scored 4,687 runs in 176 games at an average of 32.32 with a strike rate of 136.93, including 33 fifties and a century. He was part of the team’s four winning campaigns in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.
Don’t Know About Joining CSK’s Coaching Staff - Suresh Raina
Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Suresh Raina confirmed that discussions had taken place between him and the franchise. He also expressed his willingness to work with his former IPL team.
"I don’t know about joining CSK’s coaching staff. I have approached them, and they have also spoken to me. Let’s see how things go. It can’t just depend on my wish; both sides need to agree. I’ve given the franchise so much love, and if the opportunity comes, I’ll definitely try. For now, it’s a wait-and-watch situation."
Suresh Raina Says He Is Open to Joining the Mumbai Indians
Suresh Raina called Lucknow his home ground and Delhi the place where he currently lives. He also mentioned Mumbai as another possible destination. However, Raina emphasized that his emotional bond remains with the Chennai Super Kings, where his IPL journey began.
"If Mumbai Indians call, I will go there. Lucknow is also my home ground. I live in Delhi, so you can ask there too. I have offers from everywhere. But the place where it all started, the yellow love, will always remain. If they call me back in yellow, I’ll work in a yellow way."
Intersting Raina approach CSK and CSK also asked him to join... Soo who is the speed breaker between both?? pic.twitter.com/6LWd5JOOr3
— 'S (@Sushant_031) August 29, 2025
Raina became the first Indian to register centuries in all three formats. He struggled to cement his place in Tests but was a regular in ODIs and T20Is for nearly a decade. Raina scored 7,988 runs in 322 international matches, including seven centuries and 48 half-centuries.
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