During the CSK vs GT match, Suresh Raina unveiled a huge hint that he might be returning to Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026

One of the Chennai Super Kings’ finest players until 2021 was Suresh Raina, who has been a loyal supporter since the Indian Premier League’s founding in 2008. Across his IPL career, Raina amassed a total of 5,528 runs, including one century and 39 half-centuries. For CSK alone, he scored 4,867 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer for the team, just behind MS Dhoni’s 4,865 runs.

Recently, Raina hinted at a possible return to the CSK setup in a new role for the next IPL season. While he hasn’t played in the league since 2021 and was absent from the squad when CSK clinched the title in 2023 against Gujarat Titans, speculation around his comeback surfaced during commentary duties. Raina joined other former cricket players Sanjay Bangar and Aakash Chopra in the commentary box during CSK’s most recent IPL 2025 encounter against Gujarat Titans, which they won handily by 83 runs. While reflecting on CSK’s season and looking ahead to 2026, he hinted at ongoing discussions about appointing a new batting coach.

Aakash Chopra playfully probed Raina by asking if the incoming coach’s name started with the letter ‘S’. Raina responded with a laugh, alluding to his own record by saying, “He has made the fastest fifty.” This playful tease referenced Raina’s own blistering 16-ball half-century against Punjab Kings in 2014, which was among the fastest of that IPL season. Currently, Mike Hussey, who also represented CSK as a player, serves as the team’s batting coach.

With the exception of two seasons in which he played for the Gujarat Lions while CSK was suspended in 2016 and 2017 after a betting-related dispute involving team ownership, Raina’s devotion to CSK was clear throughout his career. In IPL 2025, CSK had a dismal campaign, managing only four wins from 14 matches and finishing at the bottom of the table for the first time in 18 seasons. After stepping down as captain in 2023, Dhoni reassumed leadership mid-season due to an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad, but his return couldn’t change the team’s fortunes.