His 2020 IPL departure attributed to personal reasons this season, the Suresh Raina off-road season with Chennai Super Kings looks in jeopardy even next year as the franchise could part ways with him before the 2021 edition. CSK’s camp with Dubai-based headquarters reported 13 cases of COVID-19, including two main team members: Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, a development that, according to an IPL source, played a role in the departure of the recently retired Indian player from the event from of September. 19. However, it has now emerged that the team’s management was not particularly happy with the 32-year-old’s “conduct” during the quarantine period, something that angered CSK owner and former BCCI president N Srinivasan.
“At CSK, the norm is that the coach, captain, and manager have suites. However, Raina also has a suite at any hotel where the franchise is staying. It’s just that her room didn’t have a balcony,” said a source from IPL. PTI.
“It was a problem, but I don’t think it is big enough to warrant a return (to India). There could be more than fear of the increase in COVID cases in Chennai,” added the source, alluding to an alleged violation of Raina’s biobubble.
He said that given the situation, Raina could disappear forever, not just this season, but also at the next IPL scheduled for April 2021.
Chennai’s favorite ‘Chinna Thala’ can’t wear canary yellow again. Is there a chance that Raina will return this season, thus changing the circumstances?
“It is not available this season and that is clear from the official statement issued by CSK. Now there are certain things that have not gone very well for the best people,” said the source.
“It seems highly unlikely that someone who has retired and is not likely to play cricket will come back for CSK. Maybe they will go back to the auction and someone else will pick them.”
The CSK is kicking the young Ruturaj hard, hoping that he will come out well once he completes the quarantine and rejoins the training session after two negative tests.
“CSK has not yet asked for an official replacement for Raina … they are undecided,” added the IPL source.
On the speculated biobubble rupture, the source said that an apology from Raina will have little impact given that the team is looking to the future.
“I don’t know about the apology part, but CSK will now be considering preparing Ruturaj for the future and Dhoni and Fleming will modify their strategy accordingly,” added the source.
Promoted
Raina is CSK’s tallest race winner with 4,527 races from 164 IPL games. The Uttar Pradesh southpaw is also the second leading scorer in IPL history with 5,368 runs, second only to the 5,412 runs of Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
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