‘Why would there be any regret?’ – Suresh Raina on pulling out of IPL 2020

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was clear cut in saying that he doesn’t have any regrets after pulling out of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League. Raina’s departure left a massive void in CSK’s middle-order and MS Dhoni’s men failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the history of the league. Raina is also the leading run-scorer for them after making his debut back in 2008.

On his decision to withdraw his name for the cash-rich IPL, Raina stated that he needed adequate time with his loved ones. Moreover, the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer talked about the gruesome incident where few of his relatives lost their lives.

When your family needs you, you have to be there, says Suresh Raina

“Why would there be any regret. I spent time with my kids and was there for my family. I really wanted to come back to my family. There was an incident in Punjab and they needed me (his uncle and cousins in Pathankot were murdered during a robbery),” Raina was quoted as saying to The Times of India.

“My wife needed me here, too, during the pandemic. I have been playing for 20 years so I know I will do it again. But when your family needs you, you have to be there. I felt that was the wise thing to do at that time,” the left-hander added.

Earlier, N Srinivasan, the owner of the Super Kings, expressed his displeasure after Raina didn’t take part in the prestigious tournament in the United Arab Emirates. He made some bold comments and compared cricketers to ‘prima donnas’.

“I don’t force anyone to do anything … sometimes success gets into your head. Cricketers are like prima donnas … like the temperamental actors of the olden days. Chennai Super Kings have always been like a family and all senior players have learned to co-exist,” Srinivasan told Outlook.

In 193 IPL matches, Raina has scored 5368 runs at an average and strike-rate of 33.34 and 137.11 respectively. He also has one century and 38 half-centuries to his name. In 2016 and 2017, he was a part of the Gujarat Lions when CSK were suspended for two years.