Suresh Raina 'Incredibly Hard' To Replace For CSK: Shane Watson

Veteran Australian batsman Shane Watson feels that Suresh Raina will be incredibly hard to replace for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Raina, an integral part of the CSK franchise, had pulled out of the IPL 2020 citing personal reasons. He was later joined by veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who decided against participating in IPL 2020.

Watson said that although CSK have to deal with their absence the squad has great depth and a lot of quality. He also said that Raina is the second highest run scorer in IPL and thus he will be difficult to be replaced.

“We have to (deal with the absence of Raina, Harbhajan). The great thing with CSK, as with all IPL squads, they have a lot of depth. It’s going to be incredibly hard to replace Suresh Raina. You can’t. He scored the second-most runs in the IPL, played the most games in IPL history. He has got records left, right and center,” Shane Watson told Quetta Gladiators’ head of player acquisitions, Nabeel Hashmi in a YouTube show.

“He is going to be hugely missed, knowing the conditions in the UAE is hot, more chances of wickets being more dry and turning a bit more. Raina plays spin incredibly well as well.”

Raina pulled out of the lucrative tournament as he had to address a major crisis situation back home. His aunt and cousin were left with several injuries. His bua is critically injured and while his cousin passed away.

He had asked the Punjab police to intervene in the matter. The former India cricketer has also cleared now that CSK and MS Dhoni are like family to him and it was a tough decision to make for him. He however cleared that he might return to join the CSK camp again.