There're No Plans To Part With Him: CSK Official Confirms Suresh Raina Will Be Part Of Team For IPL 2021

Chennai Super Kings are unlikely to part ways with Suresh Raina for the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to reports. The relation between the franchise and the player seemed to have completely broken down after the latter pulled out of IPL 2020 citing personal reasons. Suresh Raina had travelled to the UAE with the team but decided against playing in the tournament.

At that time, reports suggested that he was unhappy with the room provided to him. The former India batsman reportedly wanted a room like captain MS Dhoni’s which ultimately led to an altercation. Later, CSK boss N Srinivasan had also lashed out at the southpaw. Srinivasan’s outburst had made many assume that it was all over for Suresh Raina at the CSK.

“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. 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,” Srinivasan had said.

CSK to keep Suresh Raina with them:

Contrary to the popular speculation, CSK are set to continue their association with Suresh Raina, according to the Mirror. The news outlet quoted a franchise official a saying that the team is looking to have the batsman on board for the next edition. The official was obviously reacting to the news of Suresh Raina’s arrest for breaking the night curfew in Mumbai on Monday. The player was later released on bail. He said he was not aware of local timings and protocols.

“He will be with us. There are no plans to part with him,” the top CSK management official said.

“We have only read about the arrest. Our plans have nothing to do with that development. He will continue to be with us,” the franchise official added.

Suresh Raina, who was booked for violating COVID-19 protocols in Mumbai, has stated that he was unaware of local timings and protocols. The Mumbai Police carried out a raid on a club in JW Marriot around 3 am after a large number of people were found partying without maintaining the necessary protocols like wearing masks and observing physical distancing.

Suresh Raina has been CSK’s most decorated batsman. The southpaw has been with the team since IPL’s inception in 2008 and was away from Chennai for two years when the franchise was suspended from the tournament in 2016 and 2017. He is the franchise’s all-time highest run-getter. In 2018, CSK retained three players before assembling the rest of the squad at the player auction and he was one of them.

In his absence this year, CSK failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in the history of IPL. They struggled for the most part of IPL 2020 and eventually finished at the seventh spot after managing just 6 wins from 14 games.

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