World Cup-winning former India all-rounder Suresh Raina is poised to don the yellow jersey once more as he gears up for a return to competitive cricket in the inaugural season of the Indian Veteran Premier League (IVPL).
Leading the Uttar Pradesh team in this Twenty20 tournament, Raina's comeback signifies a journey back to his roots, reminiscing about his formative years representing his home state. Widely hailed as one of India's greatest T20 players, Raina is eagerly anticipating his participation in the IVPL, where he aims to showcase his dynamic batting skills and leadership prowess as the captain of VVIP Uttar Pradesh.
I'm super thrilled to be part of the IVPL: Suresh Raina
"Hello everyone. I'm Suresh Raina and I'm super thrilled to be part of the Indian Veteran Premier League, I will be playing for Team VVIP Uttar Pradesh. This is the chance to play with veteran cricketers once again," Raina said in a statement.
Teaming up with Raina in VVIP Uttar Pradesh are ex-IPL champions Rajat Bhatia and former Australian all-rounder Dan Christian. With their combined expertise and talent, the squad is ready to leave a strong mark in the IVPL, scheduled to take place from February 23 to March 3 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun.
Legends collide in the IVPL
The IVPL, overseen by the Board for Veteran Cricket in India (BVCI) and operated by 100 Sports, will assemble a lineup of veteran cricketers including Virender Sehwag, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Rajat Bhatia, Chris Gayle, Praveen Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Herschelle Gibbs, and others.
Praveen Tyagi, the Acting President of BVCI and Chairman of IVPL said, "The veteran cricketers will infuse a new energy for Veteran Cricket in India. We welcome Suresh Raina to the IVPL family and I'm sure fans will be happy to see him back on the field."
The teams taking part comprise VVIP Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan Legends, Red Carpet Delhi, Chhattisgarh Warriors, Telangana Tigers, and Mumbai Champions. Packed with talent, each team features a blend of cricketing legends and local stars united in their love for the game. Every team will boast four to five iconic players from around the globe.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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