Dubai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vice-captain Suresh Raina will miss the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to personal reasons and has already returned home. Two of his teammates Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad also have tested positive for COVID-19.
However, the main reason for Raina to come back home was the tragedy that happened in his family. Raina’s family has been attacked recently in Pathankot leading to his uncle’s death. Others are critically injured.
What happened to my family is Punjab was beyond horrible. My uncle was slaughtered to death, my bua & both my cousins had sever injuries. Unfortunately my cousin also passed away last night after battling for life for days. My bua is still very very critical & is on life support.
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) September 1, 2020
As per reports, the left-hander Raina was unhappy with the hotel room he was provided with to stay after he arrived in the UAE. He was finding it hard to obey the strict protocols of the bio-bubble. He wanted a similar room that CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had been provided with.
Raina’s room didn’t have a proper balcony and that might’ve been an issue for him. Dhoni couldn’t calm Raina over the matter and his fears grew more after 13 members of the CSK camp tested positive for coronavirus.
“It was a stupid reason, nothing much. He was not happy with the room given to him. It all started when he came to the UAE, along with the team. Other CSK members tried to convince him but he didn’t listen to anybody,” sources in the UAE told IANS.
Meanwhile, CSK owner N. Srinivasan said, “Cricketers are like prima donnas … like the temperamental actors of the olden days. Chennai Super Kings have always been like a family and all seniors players have learnt to co-exist,” he was quoted as saying to Outlook. “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 still believes Raina may rethink his decision. “The season has not begun yet and Raina will certainly realise what he is missing and certainly all the money (a salary of 11 crores per season) he is going to lose,” he said before assuring that all is well in CSK camp despite the recent developments and captain Dhoni is ‘not worried at all’.
“I spoke to MS (Dhoni) and he has assured me that even if the numbers go up, there was nothing to worry. He spoke to the players through a zoom call and asked them to remain safe. You really don’t know who is a passive carrier,” Srinivasan said.
