Suresh Raina, in the headlines after his abrupt return home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ahead of the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL), stated that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) boss N. Srinivasan was like a father figure to him while CSK was family. Any story about the aftermath of the hotel room in the UAE was “fabricated” and “anyone who knows me knows that these are all stories planted by people who don’t want me or CSK to succeed,” Suresh Raina told NDTV. He also stated that the team was doing a “commendable” job in handling the COVID-19 situation.
Below is the full interview:
Q: There are several reasons for your departure, could you clarify things?
Suresh Raina: It was a personal decision and I had to go back for my family. There was something that needed to be addressed right away on the home front and CSK is my family too and Mahi bhai is the most important thing to me and this was a difficult decision, but with the family at home, I had to go back for them.
Q: What do you think of the way Srinivasan has reacted to your departure?
Suresh Raina: He is like a father figure to me and he has always supported me and is close to my heart, he treats me like his youngest son and I am sure many things are taken out of context. I did not know the reason before and everything is fixed.
Q: Was there a sequel with the team around the hotel room?
Suresh Raina: These are all made up stories and anyone who knows me knows they are stories planted by people who don’t want me or CSK to succeed.
Q: Were you worried about the COVID situation on the team?
Suresh Raina: The team management and BCCI are doing a very commendable job of keeping everyone safe. This has never been done before and is new to everyone, so every day is new. It is a very safe environment and no one without access can move anywhere. We were all inside our rooms with no human interaction and there was a test every other day. This is a very deadly disease and even after so many precautions, if the staff gets infected, it just says how serious it can be and can happen to anyone.
Q: Given the way CSK owners have reacted, will you return to CSK?
Suresh Raina: CSK is a family to me, it is like a home. Much of what was said was taken out of context and Sreeni sir is like a father figure to me. He treats me as if I were his and when he knew why I had to leave, he understood why.
Q. Will you play IPL this season?
Suresh Raina: You never know, you might see me again at camp. First, I have to take care of my responsibilities here and then I am ready.
Q: Is the family satisfied after the assurances of Captain Amarinder (Punjab’s chief minister)?
Suresh Raina: He has assured us that he is investigating the case and that there will be a positive result soon. We are truly grateful for your support in this tragic situation.
Promoted
Q: Were you excited when MSD retired and decided to end your career in India too?
Suresh Raina: Mahi bhai is like a brother to me. We have played together for 14-15 years and the time we spend cannot be measured. It was a very emotional moment when we decided to retire from international cricket.
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