IPL 2016: Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina claims playing for a new team is like leaving an old house

Suresh Raina has been a regular for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, accumulating a number of records in the process. However, with the Chennai franchisee being suspended, the left-hander will now take over the reins of new team Gujarat Lions.

The Gujarat Lions captain spoke to the media about his new side, the match-winners they have and India's performance in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2016.

"It's like leaving a house after living there for eight years (on changing teams), that makes a lot of difference. I had played eight years in the Indian Premier League (IPL), I have learnt a lot of good things from the seniors with whom I played", said Raina, as quoted by the Indian Express.

"We have match-winning players in our side. Dwayne Bravo is there, Brendon McCullum is there. That shows how much experience we have in the dressing room. We are all looking forward to it, now it's a chance for a lot of youngsters to play for Gujarat (franchise). You see Gujarat did not have an IPL team before, it's a very good opportunities for Gujaratis."

"We (India) did really well as a batting unit. We also did well as a bowling unit barring a few games. It's part and parcel of sports, some you win, some you lose. But I am happy for the West Indies, they played really well in the World Cup. They know the conditions, they know each and every player and how to prepare themselves in the IPL."

The left-hander has been one of the most consistent batsmen of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, scoring 3,699 runs from 132 games, all of which have come for one team, the now suspended Chennai Super Kings.