Suresh Raina reacts emotionally as Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 opener

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League finally kicked off in the United Arab Emirates. And it was the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who got the better of the defending champions, the Mumbai Indians (MI). CSK batsman Suresh Raina who left the team prior to the start of the league (citing personal reasons), got emotional over as his team beat Mumbai Indians in the season-opener and for him not being part of the action.

Absence in IPL 2020 Unimaginable
Before the start of the campaign, Suresh Raina sent his wishes through Twitter to his team and expressed how unimaginable it was for him to not be part of the set up this season. He’d tweeted – “Wishing you all the success boys @ChennaiIPL. Unimaginable for me that I’m not there today, but all my wishes are with you. Sending you all the good vibes! Go get it! #WhistlePodu.” Raina had pulled off from the league having cited personal reasons just weeks after the team had touched base in the UAE.

Wishing you all the success boys @ChennaiIPL. Unimaginable for me that I’m not there today, but all my wishes are with you. Sending you all the good vibes! Go get it! 💪 #WhistlePodu https://t.co/G48ybhcbYR

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) September 19, 2020

CSK beat Mumbai Indians Season-opener
It was blockbuster of a match lined up at the start of the season. Two heavyweights – defending champions Mumbai Indians and last year’s runners-up Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced off in the season opener. Having won the toss and putting Mumbai Indians in to bat, CSK managed to restrict the defending champions to 162/9 – courtesy a disciplined bowling effort after a bright start by the Mumbai openers.

CSK didn’t have a good start to the chase and lost both openers inside the first two overs. However, a 115-runs stand between Faf du Plessis (58) and Ambatti Rayudu (71) saw CSK home by 5 wickets. The highlight of CSK’s win also being an economical bowling spell by England allrounder Sam Curran (1/28 in 4 overs) and a cameo with the bat (18 runs off 6 balls which included 2 sixes). CSK next face Rajasthan Royals on September 22nd.

While Suresh Raina can only sit back at home and wish his teammates success, CSK has got down to business right from the onset. A win over the Mumbai Indians will boost the confidence going in the games to follow. And as emotional as it sounds, Raina’s absence is unimaginable.