CSK not willing to part ways with Suresh Raina ahead of IPL 2021 edition

Suresh Raina, reportedly, would be turning out for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The southpaw didn’t take part in the previous edition of the cash-rich league after he pulled out of the tournament, citing personal reasons. He returned home after members of the Super Kings’ contingent tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier, reports of his feud with the CSK team management over the allotment of hotel rooms also emerged. The fact that Raina’s name was removed from the franchise’s official website also raised doubts over his participation for them in the T20 league.

Suresh Raina to remain with the Super Kings

However, a top official from the Men in Yellow was clear cut in saying that the team have no plans of parting ways with Raina. “He will be with us. There are no plans to part with him,” the official was quoted as saying in Mumbai Mirror.

Raina has been representing the CSK since the inaugural edition in 2008 and is their leading run-scorer with 4,527 runs. He is also the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the IPL behind Virat Kohli, who has 5,878 runs in 192 games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The left-hander, who announced his international retirement in the month of August, has been their stalwart in the number-three slot and has played a number of match-winning knocks for them.

In 2020, CSK felt his absence badly as their batting looked far from clinical and they became the first team to be knocked out of the tournament. Though MS Dhoni and Co won their last three league games, it was far too late for them.

Raina recently found himself in a bit of a tangle after being arrested from a Mumbai night club along with other renowned celebrities for breaking COVID-19 rules. Thereafter, Raina said that he wasn’t aware of the guidelines set by the Maharashtra government.

Regarding the issue, the CSK official said that it has nothing to do with Raina’s future in the Super Kings. “We have only read about the arrest. Our plans have nothing to do with that development. He will continue to be with us,” the official added.