Next year is next year; CSK will always stand by Suresh Raina: N Srinivasan

Srinivasan stressed he has returned to India because of “personal problems”. “There’s nothing more to it. He is a player we will stand by,” he said.

EXPLAINED | How the absence of Suresh Raina will impact CSK in IPL 2020

Asked if Raina would return to the CSK fold next year, Srinivasan said, “See, next year is next year. He is a great player. He is very important to CSK and CSK will stand by him.”

The former BCCI and ICC chief admitted that it would be difficult to fill Raina’s void. At the same time, he spoke about Dhoni’s leadership and how it would help the team to manage. “He [Raina] is an outstanding player, but CSK will manage. I have belief in the greatest captain of cricket.”

Srinivasan called Raina a prima donna with a positive connotation. “A prima donna is a lead singer in an opera. So it is not running anybody down.” He informed that the team management hasn’t decided about a replacement for Raina yet. “That’s up to the team management. I don’t think that so far they have sought a name.”