Suresh Raina, the vital cog in the wheel and leading run-scorer of the Chennai Super Kings franchise returned to India on August 29, with their CEO KS Viswanathan saying that the left-handed batsman had left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) citing personal problems.
He had also posted a tweet on the team’s official Twitter handle that Suresh Raina would be unavailable for the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. However, a report has claimed that Suresh Raina was dejected with the hotel room he was allocated and wanted arrangement similar to that of CSK captain MS Dhoni.
Chennai Super Kings Captain MS Dhoni Assures Owner N Srinivasan Not To Worry
Speaking to Outlook, CSK owner and former BCCI president N Srinivasan said cricketers can be unpredictable and temperamental but eventually maintained that MS Dhoni had assured him that the latter had complete control of the situation.
“Cricketers are like prima donnas … like the temperamental actors of the olden days. Chennai Super Kings have always been like a family and all seniors players have learnt to co-exist,” said Srinivasan.
“My thinking is that if you are reluctant or not happy, go back. I don’t force anyone to do anything … sometimes success gets into your head.”
“I spoke to MS (Dhoni) and he has assured me that even if the numbers go up, there was nothing to worry. He spoke to the players through a zoom call and asked them to remain safe. You really don’t know who is a passive carrier,” Srinivasan said.
MS Dhoni whose retirement from international cricket was followed by Suresh Raina was known to be calm even amidst pressured situations but will be tested this time around as CSK will look to win their 4th title without their batting mainstay Suresh Raina.
Suresh Raina Will Realize That He Will Lose All The Money
Suresh Raina who is the leading run-scorer for CSK and also the first player in IPL history to reach 5000 runs in IPL has played 158 consecutive matches for the franchise since 2008 until an injury in 2018.
“The season has not begun yet and Raina will certainly realise what he is missing and certainly all the money (a salary of 11 crores per season) he is going to lose,” the CSK boss said.
CSK have been laid down by problems even before IPL commenced from September 19 after being moved out of India due to rising cases of coronavirus and also being postponed from March 29.
CSK’s preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) hit an obstacle after it emerged that two players namely Deepak Chahar and Rituraj Gaekwad and some staff members of the franchise tested positive for COVID-19.