IPL Auction 2022: No fairytale ending for 'Mr IPL' Suresh Raina

One of the most prolific batsmen in the league's history fails to attract a single bidder, bringing the curtain down on an exceptional T20 careerIt was the summer of 2008. A blazing hot April afternoon in Chennai. A group of young hopefuls and a few India discards were training inside an empty MA Chidambaram Stadium for the newly-formed franchise Chennai Super Kings. Among the India discards was a 21-year-old Suresh Raina, dripping with sweat and running the laps with determination. When TOI caught up with him, Raina said: "I am thankful to CSK for banking on me. I will do my best to make the owners and fans happy."

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The two day IPL auction 2022 was an intense affair. 10 teams, 204 players, including 67 overseas cricketers bought, over Rs 550 Crore spent. At the end of it all, the eight older teams all have a new look and the two new ones have their first time squads in place. Players synonymous with certain

For the next 10 years, the Uttar Pradesh boy kept his word. The left-hander, from being a fringe player, became 'Mr IPL', playing 176 matches for CSK and scoring 4687 runs. It reflected in his performances for the national team as well and he became a crucial cog in India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Even in the two years of CSK's exile in 2016 and 2017, Raina was with the Gujarat Lions, but at heart he always remained a Super King. It's true that his form had tapered off in the last few seasons, the most disappointing being 2021 when he was dropped at the business end of the tournament, but even the staunchest CSK fan would have hoped that one among the 10 franchises would show some interest in him.

Barring a miracle, it may well be the end of the