Suresh Raina Highlights Two Key Factors Needed To Excel In This Year's IPL

Veteran Indian batsman Suresh Raina might not be in India’s scheme of things; however, he is one of the vital players for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Suresh Raina has involved himself in intense practice sessions ahead of this year’s IPL in the UAE and named two key factors that players need to have to thrive in the same. The yellow army lost to Mumbai Indians in the last year’s final by one run.

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The BCCI decided to organize the 13th edition of the IPL in the UAE, considering India still battles with the COVID-19 pandemic. For a lot of cricketers, including Indian cricketers, it would be their first competitive match in more than three months.

While all the cricketers have resorted themselves to fitness practices indoors, it would be different ball-game playing in a challenging tournament like IPL. The 2020 IPL kickstarts from the 19th of September.

According to Suresh Raina, the competition would be quite interesting, considering the players’ thought process after a long break, the protocols imposed by the ICC, and the regular COVID-19 tests. Hence, the southpaw believes that remaining mentally strong and clarity of thought would be essential.

“This IPL, it would be very interesting to see how players are thinking, you are playing in different circumstances, you have a lot of protocols from ICC and at the same time, you are going through tests every two-three weeks, so I would say coming out from all those tests, you need to be clear with your head on what you are going to do on the field because at the end of the day when you are playing a sport, you need to enjoy your game,” Raina said as quoted by Times Now.

Suresh Raina underlined that only if players get some clarity of thought, they can come out of the park as happy souls. Hence, as all the tests would get conducted and be done with, they all will be in a clear frame of mind.

“Then you can come out of the ground as a happy soul. So I believe, all tests will be done before the IPL and we will be in a good frame of mind because we all are sitting at home from last five months. I’m looking forward to this,” he said.

Luckily, we are going early in the UAE: Suresh Raina

The 33-year-old went on to concede that reaching the venue early would help them in adjusting to the conditions quite well. With the temperatures in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah lingering at 40 degrees Celcius, they reckon it is best to go there as soon as possible.

However, Raina also said that the UAE does not have logistical problems.

“Luckily, we are going early in the UAE, so I think, right now there is humidity in Dubai, the weather is 40 degrees Celsius, sandstorm is there, but the best thing in Dubai is that you don’t have logistical problems, it is 45 minutes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, you go from there to Sharjah, it’s 40 minutes,” the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer added.

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