Suresh Raina, the former Indian cricketer and one of the most successful batters for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is set to be part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 auction. The auction, scheduled for June 14, will feature Raina among the players whose names will be up for bidding.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently released a list of international and domestic cricketers who will be auctioned off for the five-team tournament, set to commence on July 31.

Raina, known for his solid batting skills at the top of the order, has been a consistent performer in the IPL, featuring in every season from 2008 to 2021, except for 2020 when he opted out due to COVID-19 concerns. With over 5500 runs in 205 IPL games, including an unbeaten century, Raina has showcased his prowess as a key player for CSK and Gujarat Lions in the IPL, as well as Uttar Pradesh in domestic tournaments.

After announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2022, Raina participated in the Legends League Cricket earlier this year. The 36-year-old is highly regarded in Indian cricket, having played a crucial role in CSK’s title victories in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. He served as CSK’s vice-captain and remains the team’s leading run-scorer, amassing 4,687 runs in 176 matches. Raina also led the Gujarat Lions to the top of the points table during their inaugural seasons in 2016 and 2017.

BCCI rules state that a player must retire from all forms of competitive domestic cricket to participate in franchise leagues abroad. Notable Indian cricketers like Irfan Pathan have previously played in the Lanka Premier League, representing the Kandy Tuskers in the inaugural season in 2020. Additionally, former India U-19 cricketers Unmukt Chand and Harmeet Singh have retired from domestic cricket to pursue opportunities in the United States.