IPL 2020: Raina in regular touch with CSK but return unlikely

The road back to the Indian Premier League 2020 appears virtually shut for Suresh Raina.

The veteran batsman is in regular touch with the Chennai Super Kings management. He has been having video calls with the team management every day without fail. But way back to Dubai now appears extremely difficult for Raina.

A source privy to the developments has confirmed to SportzFront that the team is finding it difficult to get Raina back into the bio bubble.

The batsman who had reportedly panicked due to confinement to his hotel room will have to go through the same process yet again even if he is allowed to join the team. “The team management had warned Raina before his departure that return might not be possible if he changes his mind after getting out of the bubble,” said the source.

Raina, who is spending time with his family in the Uttarakhand hills, is “now keen to return” to the UAE for the IPL. “He has not been able to convince the think tank as of now,” the source reiterated.

Raina is also sharing his training videos from the Himalayan State.

 

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The CSK will be playing defending champions Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi precisely after a week from today. The team will be playing at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi thereafter. The Emirates have different COVID-19 protocols in place. That makes the quarantine procedures more complicated for getting any new entrant into the bio bubble.

Raina it is learnt had also talked to the team boss N Srinivasan. The former BCCI president had already left the decision to the team management.

There has been guesswork in a section of media that CSK were trying to replace Raina with top-ranked T20 International player Dawid Malan. The speculators did not even notice that the team has already filled the quota of its overseas recruitments. CSK CEO Kashi Viswanathan had laughed off the reports.

CSK, however, is tight-lipped on Raina’s return or status of a replacement for the batsman, who had rushed home after 13 members of the CSK contingent have tested positive for COVID-19.

Admin Sportz Front

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