Former South African captain Shaun Pollock said that the Chennai Super Kings should not remain so patient with Suresh Raina and must hand a few chances to Robin Uthappa.
Formerly an Orange Cap winner in 2014 when he won the IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders, Uthappa was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 IPL Auction. The senior Indian cricketer, who was a part of India’s 2007 ICC World T20 triumph, has not managed to get a single game and questions are starting to hurl in at MS Dhoni.
However, the CSK skipper maintains his stance saying that a winning combination should not be tinkered and will continue backing the same XI until the final.
Pollock reckons that this is the best time for Chennai to try out Uthappa as once they head into the knockouts, it won’t be possible to change the combination. He mentioned that Raina has not looked in the best of touch this season and is looking totally out of shape with his technique.
“I wonder if they will give Robin Uthappa a chance. CSK are a team that doesn’t like to make big changes. The longer it goes on, the more you feel they can’t make a change for the knockouts unless they make it sooner or later.
I’m sure he will be keen to have a go. But if they keep winning, they will want everyone firing,”
he told Cricbuzz.
Suresh Raina, who announced his retirement from international cricket in August 2020, has played all the 12 games for CSK this season and amassed an underwhelming 160 runs, which includes one half-century. The 34-year-old is in desperate need of runs and might be at the receiving end of some severe criticism if he finishes the current edition of the Indian Premier League without a big knock.
CSK have remained in the top two positions right from the outset and have already confirmed their berth in the playoffs. However, they will have to remain careful as the Royal Challengers Bangalore are right by their shoulders, aiming to sneak into the top two positions currently held by CSK and DC.
Chennai and Delhi Capitals face off on Monday, which will open the gates for RCB to have a sniff at the top two positions, but the net run rate factor keeps Chennai and Delhi way ahead.
