Suresh Raina returned back to India after opting out of IPL 2020 due to COVID-19 spread in CSK contingent.
The Chennai vice-captain had come back to India, shocking the CSK and IPL fans in general, as the news came out just weeks before IPL 2020 is slated to begin from September 19.
He had cited the health of his kids and family for coming back, after 13 members of the CSK contingent, including two players in Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad testing positive for Coronavirus. Raina was also reportedly spooked during the 6-day quarantine and decided to opt-out of IPL 2020.
Now, Raina, in an interview to Outlook India, has hinted that he might return to IPL 2020 when he feels things are safe in UAE for doing so. "I am training every day and keeping myself fit and ready. Let the schedule come out first and if things are fine, I may go back," he said.
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Meanwhile, he pushed for CSK captain MS Dhoni to bat at no.3 in the position he used to occupy. Raina feels Dhoni still has the ability to "win a match single-handedly and can change the course of a match anytime."
"He has the experience to bat at that position. How can one forget Dhoni's 148 against Pakistan in the second ODI at Visakhapatnam in April 2005? It's a very crucial position and the No. 3 position will give Dhoni more flexibility," said Raina.
Raina also praised 23-year-old Maharashtra batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been rated very highly on the strength of his domestic scores. "I liked his attitude and (he) was batting very well in the nets. Ruturaj is a brilliant player and someone for the future for sure," Raina said.
Though initially, CSK owner N Srinivasan had suggested that Raina acted like a prima donna, he did a U-turn after outrage on social media and said that the former India batsman was like a son to him. Raina, also in an interview, called the former BCCI President like a ‘father figure’.
(Outlook India inputs)