New Delhi: Indian cricketer Suresh Raina announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday, September 06, 2022.
The cricketer took to social media to announce the news. Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Raina wrote, “It has been an absolute honour to represent my country & state UP. I would like to announce my retirement from all formats of cricket. I would like to thank BCCI, UPCA Cricket, Chennai IPL, Rajiv Shukla sir, and all my fans for their support and unwavering faith in my abilities.”
His retirement from all forms of cricket also means that Raina will no longer play for team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premiere League (IPL). Suresh Raina had scored more than 5,000 runs and won four titles in the 13 seasons of the IPL under the CSK.
The 35-year-old had taken retirement from international cricket following Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s footsteps on August 15, 2020.
However, Raina’s decision also suggests new playing avenues for the cricketer, including tournaments like the Road Safety Series and the overseas T20 leagues. “Raina’s decision will free him to play tournaments like the Road Safety Series, for which he has already been confirmed, as well as overseas T20 leagues,” an ESPN Cricinfo report said.
“I want to continue playing cricket for two or three years. There are some exciting youngsters who are coming through the ranks of Uttar Pradesh cricket. I have already taken my No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). I have informed BCCI secretary Jay Shah and vice-president Rajiv Shukla about my decision. I will play in the Road Safety Series. T20 franchises from South Africa, Sri Lanka and UAE have contacted me but I am yet to take any decision,” Raina said.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) took to social media and wished Raina luck. Sharing Raina’s historic 2010 innings from T20 World Cup, the ICC wrote, “He is India’s only centurion in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. Relive the brilliant knock from the 2010 edition.”
Making his international debut in 2005, Raina played 226 ODIs, 78 T20Is and 18 Tests and scored more than 8,000 runs across three formats. He was also part of the Men’s Indian cricket team that won the 2011 World Cup.
(Avya Mathur)