With the announcement of IPL 2020, all eyes will be on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is just more than a month away and Dhoni's close friend and teammate Suresh Raina gave a hint of how Dhoni will comeback.
Raina is confident about Dhoni smashing the opposition in IPL 2020 which is scheduled to be played in UAE from September 19 to November 10. Dhoni hasn't played cricket for over a year and it has created a hype before his comeback.
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Talking about CSK captain Dhoni in an interview, Raina said a lot of helicopter shots are expected from him. He also added how Dhoni had worked hard in March, before the usual start of IPL 2020.
"I was there with him and he was practicing really hard (before the pandemic). Hopefully, you will see his helicopter shot soon. He’s been a great brand ambassador for IPL and such a great cricketer. You will see him in his best fighting spirit. He’s all pumped up and looking forward to going to UAE and entertain all his fans.", Raina said on the eve of being appointed brand ambassador of WTF Sports, an online fantasy gaming platform.
Raina is practicing hard after the confirmation of IPL 2020. He also opened up on the challenges players are facing amid pandemic.
When asked if players are worried about the COVID-19 virus while practicing, he replied, "Definitely. In this pandemic, a lot of things have happened. 2020 has been one of the worst years, but at the same time I would say that as Indians we have really fought back; the way we have encouraged our frontline doctors and staff.
"We have really pushed the bar and when you have tough days, we need to come out of our comfort zone and work really hard. What’s done is done and we are in good spirits. Let’s play cricket now. This sport has the potential to bring back smiles on people’s faces with families, friends, and fans coming together."
Chennai Super Kings had a squad that suited their home conditions well. Raina was questioned if the change of venue will affect their chances in IPL 2020 and he said, " think the experience will matter. In the UAE there are a lot of big grounds and we also have a lot of quality players who have played a lot of leagues around the world like Shane Watson, DJ Bravo. With MS Dhoni at the helm, we have a lot of experience to tackle all that. As a batsman, I can assure you that we will just go out on the field and express ourselves. We have played in those conditions before and once we have a camp there, we will know how it works."
IPL 2020: Suresh Raina reveals MS Dhoni is training hard at home ahead of IPL in UAE
We usually see players traveling with their families during the IPL 2020, especially CSK cricketers who are mostly 30+ in age. Raina is not sure if BCCI will allow them to travel to the UAE with family this time.
"That is for the BCCI to decide as a lot of guidelines have changed with the health advisories for the players and staff. This IPL will be very challenging for players as we need to maintain proper social distancing. Only once we reach there will we know of proper protocols. At this stage, let’s just hope for the best," he signed off.
