Cricketer
Suresh Raina’s sudden exit from
the Indian Premier League (IPL) took almost the entire nation by surprise. The internet has been abuzz with speculations about a possible rift between Raina and
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players. However, on Thursday, the cricketer, in an interview with
Cricbuzz put all the speculations to rest.
In the interview, Raina clarified that his decision to leave the CSK team was a ‘personal’ one and did not have anything to do with an alleged rift with the team.
“It was a personal decision and I had to come back for my family. There was something that needed to be addressed immediately on the home front,” Raina said in the interview.
Shedding light on the move that took many by surprise, Raina said that it was a tough decision, and that CSK is family. He also said that MS Bhai (MS Dhoni) is important for him. “Nobody will just turn their back on Rs 12.5 crore and walk away without a solid reason,” Raina went on to add.
Reacting to N Srinivasan’s recent comments, in which he called Raina a ‘prima donna’, the cricketer said that the team boss’s statements were taken out of context.
“He is like a father figure to me and he’s always stood by me and is close to my heart. He treats me like his younger son and I am sure a lot of what he said was taken out of context.
Ek baap apne bacche ko daant sakta hai(A father can scold his son),” he said.
Raina said that Srinivasan didn’t know the “real reasons” for his departure when he made the comments and has since sent him a message.
The development comes after the cricketer, on Tuesday, had tweeted about the Pathankot incident in which two of his relatives were killed.
Talking about the incident, Raina said, “The Pathankot incident was horrible and has really been very disturbing for everyone in our family. And it was my responsibility to come back and take care of them. But since I’ve returned, I’ve been in quarantine here. So, I still have to go meet my parents and my
bua who are all in great distress.”
When asked if he was comfortable with the bio-security measures taken in the UAE to keep IPL players safe, Raina lauded BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India) for their efforts. However, Raina added that he has a family back home and was concerned that if something were to happen to him, how his family would cope with it.
“My family is most important to me and I am really concerned for them during these times. I haven’t seen my kids for more than 20 days, even after coming back, since I am in quarantine,” added the 33-year-old.
Dhoni Turns 39! Kedar Jadhav’s Letter To ‘Lighthouse’ MSD, Bravo Croons ‘Helicopter’ Song, …
Wishes Pour In
Tuesday saw wishes pour in aplenty for India’s original ‘Captain Cool’ as he turned a year older. Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have been away from the sporting arclights – he hasn’t played any international cricket since July 2019 when India lost to New Zealand in the ICC World Cup semis – but he remains entrenched in public memory.
Colleagues from the cricket dressing room, buddies from the IPL Chennai Super Kings dugouts, seniors from another era, commentators, fans, and his better-half joined the bandwagon to ring in the enigmatic cricketer’s 39th, virtually.
To The Lighthouse
Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings colleague Kedar Jadhav took to Twitter early Tuesday morning to wish Captain MSD a glorious year. And the all-rounder poured it all out, in a heartfelt letter that was addressed to his “best friend, team-mate and captain”. The 35-year-old cricketer from Maharashtra compared Mahi to a “lighthouse … that symbolises a way forward, strength and a source of guidance, just like you.” He thanked him for being around and standing strong like a lighthouse when subjected to “immense scrutiny at times”. He also mentioned that during the lockdown he has been binge-watching all the previous matches, and recalled MSD’s “tips from behind the stumps, our off the field bonding.”Bravo Does A Song & Dance
Another of his CSK colleagues literally did a song and dance about MSD on his birthday. Caribbean player Dwayne Bravo released the trailer of a “helicopter song” based on the former Team India skipper’s cricketing journey. The 36-year-old player from the West Indies, who shares a crackling chemistry with Dhoni, both on and off the field, took to Instagram to share his work of art about Dhoni’s various achievements on the pitch. Dhoni, who started off as a ticket collector with the Indian Railways, is only the first captain to win all three major ICC trophies for his country.The Missus Says It, With Mush
Sakshi Singh Dhoni showered mushy greetings on her husband via an Instagram post that caught Dhoni in various moods. From bonding and frollicking with his dogs to staring at the evening skyline, Mrs Dhoni captioned it, with a bit of mush: “Marking the date you were born, another year older, greyed a bit more, become smarter and sweeter. (Literally ????)
Elaborating on his enigma and Captain Cool charm, she wrote that her husband was “a man who will not be moved by all the sweet wishes and gifts.”And of course, she knows him best!
From The Captain’s Deck!
Team India skipper Virat Kohli kept it short and simple, as he wished the July-born ‘Mahi Bhai’ health and happiness on social media. The Delhi player posted a collage of three pictures in which the two are shown to be bonding with each other on the field, and post-match victory. Contrary to rumours, the two have shared an easy rapport.
