On Saturday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chief coach Stephen Fleming said the team has to find a way to minimise the loss of key injured player Suresh Raina. After opening their campaign with a bang defeating Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener, MS Dhoni-led CSK pulled off yet another thrilling chase the other day beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, losing Raina is a big loss for the team.
Suresh Raina is ruled out of next game against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Mohali on Sunday after sustaining a calf muscle injury during the match against KKR. About Raina, Fleming said, "We can't replace him. He is one of the best performers in the IPL and highest run-scorer, so we can't replace him, but we have just got to find a way to minimise his loss."
"We have got good players in our set up. Dhruv Shorey, Murali Vijay who has played here (in Mohali) last year... So, these are guys with points to prove with international experience and when they get the chance they would do their best to do what Suresh Raina can do."
Fleming also said that another player Lungi Ngidi had flown back to South Africa owing to a family exigency and the side is set to miss the services of the pace bowler on "seam friendly" Mohali tracks. He said that changes are likely to be introduced in the batting order in Raina's absence, but these may be revisited once he is fit again to play. He also said that IPL is about making combinations given the challenges one is faced with. "Sometimes the ideal has to sit on the side and you come up with solution that fits may be the bigger picture."