MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings won the fifth title this year by beating Gujarat Titans in the final by five wickets. At the start of the tournament, it looked that CSK might struggle due to the addition of many new players but captain Dhoni handled them very smartly and went on to win the prestigious title. Meanwhile, the former CSK star batter Suresh Raina has talked about a decision that MS Dhoni took after consulting with the Southpaw.
Chennai Super Kings made a tough decision near the conclusion of IPL 2021 and removed their prominent player Suresh Raina from the team and replaced him with Robin Uthappa. Uthappa was then traded from the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 and he played his first match for CSK against Delhi Capitals. During the toss, Dhoni stated that Raina was injured. However, Raina did not make a comeback to the playing XI of CSK for the remaining part of IPL 2021.
During a conversation with Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina disclosed that the decision to allow the right-handed batsman was a strategic move, and CSK captain Dhoni consulted with him regarding this settlement.
“When MS Dhoni and I talked, I suggested to him that ‘you should try Robin Uthappa’. He (Dhoni) took permission from me to play you and I said to him ‘he is the guy to give you the final, trust me’,” Raina told Uthappa on JioCinema.
Raina said that ‘Raina Not In The Playing XI Of CSK’ was never in the dictionary of MS Dhoni but the left-handed batter convinced him to bring in Robin Uthappa in the XI.
“MS Dhoni said that ‘See we have played since 2008 but I want to win this season. Now, you tell me what to do. I said ‘Play Robin at number 3 and make sure he is in the playing XI till the final. If you win, CSK will win. Whether I play or he, Robin and Raina are the same,” the CSK great added.
In IPL 2021, Robin Uthappa scored a total of 115 runs in four matches, maintaining a strike rate of 136.90. Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious in the tournament and won the title by defeating the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final.
