IPL 2022 Retention not end for Suresh Raina: For the first time, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) let go of Chinna Thala Suresh Raina, opting to retain a young Ruturaj Gaikwad instead. While many believe Raina might have played his last game for CSK, his former teammate Rubin Uthappa ruled that out. According to the batsman, who replaced Raina in the Playing XI, Raina will be the first CSK will go after in the IPL 2022 auctions.
“He’s (Raina) I think the biggest stalwart of CSK that we’ve had. He’s been such an instrumental figure in helping CSK qualify to so many of the knockout stages in the last 10-12 years,” Robin Uthappa said on Star Sports show ‘IPL Retention’.
All the existing IPL franchises on Tuesday revealed the list of their retained players ahead of the mega auction of the upcoming season. CSK retained Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad during the event.
IPL 2022 Retention not end for Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa says Chinna Thala will be first guy CSK would go after in auction
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Suresh Raina has been CSK’s vital cog in the middle-order. In IPL 2020 when Raina pulled out of the tournament, CSK suffered in his absence. CSK finished at 7th position. The recently concluded season was different. Raina started with a half-century but slowly faded away and was dropped from CSK’s Playing XI for the first time, replacing with Uthappa.
“So, Sureshi (Suresh Raina) has been a vital cog in the wheel, so I think he will be the first guy they will go after. Having said that, it must have been really difficult to let go of Faf but, I think the only thing that pegged it towards Mo (Moeen Ali) was the fact that he is a two-dimensional player, with both the skills, and unfortunately, they had to make that choice,” Robin Uthappa said.
IPL 2022 Retention not end for Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa says Chinna Thala will be first guy CSK would go after in auction
“And they would definitely want to retain a player with two skills. But I am certain that they will go after Faf because he has been incredible for CSK over the past 5 or 6 years,” he added.
Meanwhile, the two new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises — Lucknow and Ahmedabad have a budget of Rs 33 crore to pick three players who go back into the pool before the mega auction begins.
IPL 2022 Retention not end for Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa says Chinna Thala will be first guy CSK would go after in auction
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