N Srinivasan has softened his stance on the sudden decision of CSK batsman Suresh Raina, to leave the camp in UAE and return home before the IPL 2020 commences on September 19. Raina cited personal reasons for his return, but Srinivasan had come down hard on the batsman.
Though Srinivasan has maintained that his comments to Outlook India were taken out of context, he had suggested that Raina was acting like a prima donna and mentioned that success might have gotten to his head. He had also said that the salary of 11 cr INR per season might make Raina think about coming back.
Suresh Raina also opened up about his return for the first time and mentioned that he is open to going back to UAE and play in the IPL 2020 since he hasn’t stopped training.
After Suresh Raina called N Srinivasan a ‘father figure’ to him, the CSK owner has told PTI, “I have treated him like one (son). The reason for CSK’s success in IPL over the years is because of the fact that the franchise never poked its nose into cricketing matters. India Cements is running cricket since the ’60s. I will always remain like that.”
When prodded for comment on whether Raina will return to UAE and play for CSK in IPL 2020, Srinivasan declined to confirm anything.
“Look, please understand, that that’s not my domain (whether Raina will come back or not) at all. We own a team, we own the franchise but we do not own players. The team is ours but the players are not. I don’t own the players,” he said.
For Srinivasan, the decision on Raina will lay with the team management, which means skipper Dhoni and CEO KS Viswanathan.
“I am not the cricket captain. I have never told them (team management) whom to play, whom to take in the auction, never. We have the greatest captain of all time. So, why shall I even interfere in cricketing matters?” Srinivasan said.
(PTI inputs)
