MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (Source:@Diptiranjan_7,x.com)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin bowling coach Sridharan Sriram has responded to mounting speculation surrounding Suresh Raina’s potential return to the franchise in a coaching role for IPL 2026.
Rumours Swirl Over Raina’s Return As CSK Batting Coach
While Raina appeared to hint at a possible comeback during the Hindi broadcast of CSK’s final IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans (GT). In a recent news related to this Sriram revealed he was unaware of any official developments.
“I don’t know. I have to ask him if he said that,” Sriram said in the post-match press conference after CSK delivered their most commanding performance of the season, defeating Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Sriram remained guarded about internal decisions but emphasised the clarity within the CSK leadership group moving forward.
“Really don't know what is going to happen,” he said. “The good thing is Fleming, MS, and Ruturaj they’ve got a clear idea of what went wrong and what needs to be done. So I think the road ahead is quite clear, which I think is a real positive.”
It is important to note that the speculation gained momentum after Raina suggested during JioStar’s Hindi commentary that CSK was in search of a new batting coach. Co-commentator Aakash Chopra added fuel to the fire by claiming that Raina would indeed join CSK as the new batting coach.
In a cryptic exchange, Aakash Chopra asked Raina whether the new coach’s name began with 'S', to which Raina replied with a reference to the fastest IPL fifty for CSK an achievement he holds.
Suresh Raina's Role As A Player For CSK
Suresh Raina played a crucial role in CSK’s rise to prominence in the IPL from 2008 to 2021. The star batter also remains the franchise’s all-time leading run-scorer with 5529 runs. He was part of the core group that led the team to five IPL titles and has long been considered one of the greatest players in IPL history.
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