Chennai Super Kings (CSK) premier batsman Suresh Raina has admitted that there will be a lot of changes in the squad next season but they’ve created enough memories in IPL 2021 to cherish for a lifetime.
After Chennai Super Kings were bogged down in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, no one expected them to stage a dominant comeback in the IPL 14.
The MS Dhoni-led side displayed some breath-taking performances in the league stage and became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. The “Yellow Army” then displayed a sensational performance against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 and followed it with an emphatic 27 run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the final to bag yet another trophy in their kitty.
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Though MS Dhoni didn’t have the greatest of seasons with the bat, he made sure that he didn’t miss any trick in captaincy and add another feather in his cap.
With the next edition of the IPL set to welcome two new teams along with the mega auction, there’s no clarity about how many retentions will a team be allowed and it’s almost certain that many players from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will go in the auction and there’s the possibility that they can represent other teams.
Suresh Raina, who also wasn’t at his best with the bat in the tournament, said that he is expecting a lot of changes in the team but they will leave the team on a very good note. He added that when they left the bio-bubble there were a lot of emotions and everybody was missing each other as no one knows what will happen next year.
"There will be changes, definitely. We have played all the finals (The core group). We have won the title 4 times. We have left on a very good note. Last year, we were not able to qualify but this year we won the title in the UAE.
"There were emotions when we were leaving the bio-bubble. Everybody was missing each other. What happens next year is something no one knows but we will cherish the trophy that we have won,” Suresh Raina told Ajtak.
There’s no denying the fact that MS Dhoni disappointed his fans with his batting performance but when it mattered the most, the wicketkeeper-batter delivered on the big stage and snatched victory for his team from the jaws of defeat against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1.
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Talking about the same, Raina said that particular innings of MS Dhoni will remain with each and every CSK player all through their lives.
"The way MS won us the match in the play-offs, the way he hit those boundaries. It's a different feeling and it will remain with us all through our lives,” he said.
Suresh Raina further correlated, orange cap holder, Ruturaj Gaikwad, with MS Dhoni and said that the young batsman is ready to don an Indian jersey for a long time. And his ability to stay calm in big games makes him more of a Dhoni type person.
"Ruturaj and Faf du Plessis helped us build the momentum in IPL 2021. From the first game, they have been playing well. I think Ruturaj is ready to play for India for a long time.
"The way he handled pressure in the play-offs is great. He is more of a Mahi bhai type of person. He works very hard but stays very calm. It's important for Ruturaj to take off from here," he said.
With an emphatic win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the second team with four IPL titles, only behind Mumbai Indians who have five titles in their cabinet.
