Highlights:
- MS Dhoni took a brave decision in IPL 2020
- CSK will play 3 matches in the 1st week of IPL 2020
- Chennai based franchise will be the only team which will play 3 IPL matches in less than 7 days
The decision taken by the captain cool MS Dhoni will go down as one of the bravest decisions by any captain in the history of the Indian Premier League. It is being learnt that the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings and its captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni were given an option to being their IPL 2020 campaign on the 23rd of September instead of playing the opening game of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League.
Chairman of the IPL Governing Council, Brijesh Patel, gave CSK the option to play Match number 5 of IPL 2020 which could have given CSK more time to prepare themselves and also overcome all the issues which have surrounded them recently including playing opting out of IPL 2020 like Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina.
Given CSK players tested positive for the novel COVID-19, CSK was the last team to begin their training sessions, however, the courageous captain of CSK, MS Dhoni, declined the offer.
Dhoni opted to begin IPL 2020 campaign against Mumbai Indian on the opening evening of the tournament. CSK and MI also clashed in the finale of IPL 2019 where Mumbai Indians won the trophy.
One IPL Governing Council member said, “Releasing IPL schedule is the prerogative of IPL Governing Council. We don’t check with IPL franchises on their preferences in regard to scheduling of the games. But these are very exceptional circumstances, especially with the Covid-19 cases in the CSK team. That is the reason, before releasing the schedule we discussed with them. We could have scheduled CSK’s first game at a later stage. But they wanted to play the opening game”.
On top of this, defying all the speculation and logic, Dhoni and CSK opted for the schedule where they will play 3 games in the first 6 days of the IPL 2020.
Also Read: Harbhajan Singh Pulls Out Of IPL 2020, After Suresh Raina: Big Blow For CSK
In the first week of IPL 2020, CSK will be the only team to play 3 games with-in the first week.
Match 1: Saturday 19TH SEP Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians @ 7:30 PM ABU DHABI
Match 2: Tuesday 22nd SEP Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals @ 7:30 PM Sharjah
Match 3: Friday 25-SEP Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals @ 7:30 PM DUBAI
The CSK camp is super excited and confident that they will overcome all their challenges before the IPL will begin and they face Mumbai Indians on the 19th September 2020 in Abu Dhabi.
A team member of CSK said, “After all our players tested negative this week, team management was keen to play the opening game of the league. We are all excited to take on Mumbai Indians in the first game”, in UAE.
Keeping this aside, MS Dhoni will have to make another huge decision this IPL 2020 of whether to allow re-entry or go for a replacement.
According to reports, Raina after making a hasty retreat from CSK camp has apologized to both the team owner N.Srinivasan and the team management.
A report said, “Once he left, he has been removed from CSK’s WhatsApp group. He has reached out to team-management including CEO, MS Dhoni and Coach Fleming and is looking for a chance to return”.
After the call from Suresh Raina, CAK owner accepted the apology, however, the CSK boss has refused to interfere in any decision of the team management.
He said, “Look, please understand, that’s not my domain at all,” and added, “We own a team, we own the franchise but we do not own players. I don’t own the players.”
“I am not the cricket captain… We have the greatest captain of all times. So, why shall I even interfere in cricketing matters?”
The good news for Raina is that CSK has not sought for a replacement yet. CSK’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kasi Viswanathan and he made it clear that there are no talks in the CSK camp to call for Suresh Raina’s replacement.
The key to Suresh Raina’s comeback lies with MS Dhoni if he decided to unlock the door only then Raina would be allowed to re-enter the CSK camp in IPL 2020.
