Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina has declined to comment on whether MS Dhoni will feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027. Raina shares a close bond with the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, whose future in the tournament remains a talking point among fans.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, continues to attract attention whenever discussions turn to the IPL. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon has won five IPL titles as captain, sharing the record for the most titles as a skipper in the tournament.
The 44-year-old missed the whole IPL 2026 season due to injuries. He initially suffered a calf strain during the pre-season camp, which recurred during his recovery. A subsequent thumb injury further affected his campaign.
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With speculation continuing over whether Dhoni will return for IPL 2027, Raina was asked about his former India teammate during an exclusive interaction with The Daily Jagran at the Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) Season 2 jersey unveiling event in New Delhi. However, the former India batter chose not to comment on the matter.
“I don’t want to comment on that,” Raina said when asked about Dhoni’s IPL 2027 participation.
Suresh Raina Explains Why Tennis-Ball Cricket Is Not Easy
Apart from Dhoni’s IPL future, Raina also spoke about the importance of tennis-ball cricket and the skills required to play it. The former India all-rounder said that batting and bowling with a tennis ball can be challenging, despite the common perception that it is easier than playing with a leather ball.
Raina also recalled how India’s coaching staff, led by Gary Kirsten during the 2011 ODI World Cup, used tennis-ball practice as part of the team’s preparations.
“Tennis-ball cricket requires a lot of skill. People often think that if you can hit a tennis ball, you can play it easily. But that is not the case. There is a lot of street cricket today, and playing with a tennis ball requires its own set of skills.
“If you cannot hit the ball properly, you can feel embarrassed because people expect you to perform well in these games. Bowling with a tennis ball is also difficult. If you cannot bowl a yorker, the ball can move towards the leg side, and the bounce is different. You need to get your length right and bowl fuller deliveries.
“As Indian cricketers, we also practised with tennis balls, even when preparing for matches on Australian wickets. We used different methods to prepare for the conditions, including practising with water and working on our bounce. Gary Kirsten would also train us using a tennis racket. It had several advantages.
“It is not just about playing with a tennis ball. A leather ball is much harder, and tennis-ball cricket gives youngsters opportunities to develop their skills. I think the initiative taken by ISCL is a very good one,” Raina said.
What Is ISCL?
The Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) is India’s first professionally organised, interstate softball, tennis ball cricket league. It is designed to elevate grassroots and gully cricket talent onto a national stage. The ISCL unveiled the jerseys for its second season at an event in New Delhi on Saturday.
The tournament is scheduled to feature 127 matches in Bengaluru, with the second season set to run from November 25 to December 30, 2026. The league aims to provide a platform for players to showcase their talent through softball cricket.
