Suresh Raina Left UAE:
Chennai Super Kings owner N Srinivasan has said he believes Suresh Raina’s return to India from the UAE on Friday would not impact the team’s preparations ahead of the IPL season.
However, Srinivasan, a former BCCI president, and ICC chairman said Raina would “certainly realise” what he would be missing, including the “money he is going to lose” by skipping the IPL.
Srinivasan also said the Super Kings were confident about their prospects for the season because MS Dhoni, the captain, was “unfazed” not just by the Raina issue but also by Covid-19’s impact on the contingent: at least 13 members of the Super Kings unit including two Indian players – one international and one uncapped – have tested positive since landing in the UAE.
Suresh Raina has returned to India for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of the IPL season. Chennai Super Kings offers complete support to Suresh and his family during this time.
KS Viswanathan
CEO— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) August 29, 2020
This is the first time Srinivasan has commented on the Raina issue, which caught the Super Kings management by surprise. Raina returned to India on Friday from Dubai, less than 10 days after the Super Kings had landed in the UAE for the IPL.
On Friday, the Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said on the team’s Twitter feed that Raina had left for “personal reasons” but did not elaborate on what they were. It is understood that a personal tragedy, as well as concerns over the team’s biosecure bubble in the UAE, led Raina to his decision.
“The season has not begun yet and Raina will certainly realise what he is missing and certainly all the money he is going to lose,” Srinivasan said, speaking to the Outlook magazine.
Will Raina Play in IPL 2021 For CSK?
An IPL source has stated that Suresh Raina could well be gone for good now not only this season but also the next IPL scheduled in April 2021. The southpaw, who is Super Kings’ most-decorated batsman, might now don the famous yellow jersey again.
“He is unavailable this season and that is clear from the official statement issued by the CSK. Now there are certain things that have not gone down too well with the top people,” the source was quoted as saying by PTI.
“It looks highly improbable that someone who has retired and likely won’t play any cricket will come back for CSK. Maybe, he will be back in the auction and someone else might pick him,” he added.
He further stated that the franchise is now pinning its hopes on young Ruturaj Gaikwad to replace Suresh Raina in the middle order. The youngster is currently in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 along with teammate Deepak Chahar.
“CSK has not yet asked for an official replacement for Raina…they are undecided,” the IPL source said.
“I don’t know about the apology part (from Raina) but CSK will now be eyeing to prepare Ruturaj looking at the future and Dhoni and Fleming will rejig their strategy accordingly,” the source added.
Suresh Raina is Super Kings all-time highest run-getter with 4527 runs from 164 IPL games. The Uttar Pradesh left-hander is also the second-highest scorer in IPL history with 5368 runs, second only to Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s 5412 runs.
