As the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League is just around the corner, MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings have been beset by problems. After 2 players were tested positive for Coronavirus, their senior player Suresh Raina backed out off IPL 2020, leaving his fans heartbroken.
As soon as the news of Suresh Raina’s exit came out, speculations started about what made the star player leave the team. Many reports suggested that the cricketer was having the Coronavirus phobia. However, the former BCCI president and the owner of CSK N Srinivasan has hinted otherwise.
There were also reports that Suresh Raina was feeling ‘claustrophobic’ inside his hotel room during the required quarantine period and thus demanded a room with a balcony.
Recently, he made a few controversial statements regarding the exit of Suresh Raina from the team, following which he found himself at the receiving end of criticism when he said that the cricketers are like prima donnas. He had said:
“Cricketers are like prima donnas … like the temperamental actors of the olden days.”
He added:
Now, reacting to his statement, he said that the CSK squad is like a family and his statements were misinterpreted. He said:
“These boys, they’re family. They’ve been family for over a decade now. When I said ‘cricketers are like prima donnas’, it wasn’t in a negative sense. A prima donna is the lead singer in an opera. Similarly, cricketers are always at the forefront of an exercise like this.”
He also lauded the contribution of Suresh Raina to the team over the years. He said that it is important to understand the situation of Suresh Raina and give him space. He said:
“Suresh Raina’s contribution to the Chennai Super Kings franchise is second to none and it is unfortunate that people are trying to put two and two together to drive a wedge. His contribution to CSK has been phenomenal over the years,”
He added:
“It is important to understand what Suresh is going through and give him space. The franchise will always stand by him and he has our complete support during these times of distress,”
