Suresh Raina sets loose speculation

FEW INSIDERS BELIEVE THAT RAINA HAS NOT RETURNED ON HIS OWN VOLITION BUT WAS “ASKED TO GO.” WHAT COULD THE PROVOCATION BE FOR THIS EXTREME STEP? HIS FANS DESERVE AN EXPLANATION

With his unexplained exit from IPL 2020, Suresh Raina seems to have followed in the footsteps of former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu who had also walked out of India’s tour of England in 1996. Sidhu’s infamous walkout was speculated to have been the result of differences with his then captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, although the exact reasons for the split were never spelt out either by the individuals in the midst of the unsavory drama or by the BCCI.

Suresh Raina’s sudden return from the IPL has once again brought on speculations in the media. Adding to the rumours is N. Srinivasan’s inconsistent reactions to the move. Almost 24 hours after indicating that Suresh Raina’s exit suggested that success has gone to his head, Srinivasan, the chief of India Cements, which owns the Chennai Super Kings franchise, has made a complete U- turn — now they’re praising the aggressive left- handed middle- order batsman!

WAS RAINA TOLD TO ‘ GO AWAY’?

A few insiders believe that Raina has not returned on his own volition but was sent back for “serious breach of discipline” inside the bio- security bubble at Taj Dubai. His fans and the country that is crazy about cricket, needs an explanation for his exit from the IPL team and the BCCI.

Renowned sports lawyer Rahul Mehra agrees. “Unless the idea is to somehow ensure publicity by creating an unnecessary controversy, it would be in the best interest of BCCI and/ or the CSK management to clear the air around Raina’s recall,” he reasons. “Remaining quiet, though an option, would only add fuel to the fire and result in various undesirable speculations.”

However, another sports lawyer, Aahna Mehrotra, begs to differ. “Why must any governing body make public someone’s private life?” argues Aahna.

“Unless the idea is to somehow ensure publicity by creating an unnecessary controversy, it would be in the best interest of BCCI and/ or the CSK management to clear the air around Raina’s recall. Remaining quiet, would only add fuel to the fire and result in various undesirable speculations.”

— Rahul Mehra, sports lawyer

“They have mutually decided to terminate the contract or call for suspension or whatever. The contract may have clauses pertaining to the ‘ fine’, which are imposed if after getting into a contract a party backs out. However, the contract also has a confidentiality clause, and the other party’s personal life is confidential and not the subject matter of public disclosure,” she explains.

‘ PERSONAL REASONS’, JUST AN EXCUSE

According to one of the coaches tracking Raina’s development, who did not wish to be named, citing ‘ personal reasons’ is the BCCI’s most- commonly used weapon. “Take the instances of Anil Kumble and Sanjay Bangar, who had to resign because the Indian team was not happy with them,” points out the coach. “Even if Raina had a rift with the team management over hotel room allotment, as reported in the media, both sides will remain silent and everything will settle down by the time the IPL begins.”

The coach went on to add that he was not satisfied with one argument doing rounds in the media, which stated that Raina had returned because of the death of his uncle. “I do not buy that story because if that was the case, Raina would have agreed to re- join the IPL given that the tournament lasts for another two months. Why would he prefer to lose a big contract? In my opinion, all this could be because Raina plans to play for another team next year. And if Raina speaks anything against the CSK management now, no other team would be ready to buy him,” he observed.