IPL 2020 | Want to see Ambati Rayudu replace Suresh Raina at no.3 for CSK, says Scott Styris

09/11/2020

Scott Styris has asserted that he wants to see Ambati Rayudu step in the shoes of Suresh Raina and bat at no.3 for CSK this IPL. Styris also stated that it will be very very diffciult to replace big players like Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, who both left IPL due to personal reasons.

As we are getting closer to the 13th edition of the IPL, the excitement and anticipation are only on the rise. Chennai Super Kings suffered huge setbacks even before the start of the IPL as senior players Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh opted out of the lucrative league owing to personal reasons, which has become quite common as the world is going through a global pandemic in the form of novel Coronavirus.

Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris named Ambati Rayudu as Suresh Raina's replacement for CSK. He also added that not having Raina will create a big hole in Chennai's batting.

"Personally, I'd put Rayudu in there to take that spot," Styris said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected'.

"A player of Raina's class, a player who has been so good for so long. To suddenly finds those runs, even in the field and the odd over as well with the ball, is going to be a big task.

"I know that the CSK squad is deep, they've got a lot of options at the top, but I also believe that as much as the pressure is now on to find that No. 3, it's just probably the most challenging time that I can look for anyway for CSK. And in particular, the leadership of this group - I think with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni and Stephen Fleming - it's up to them now to bring the group together, now that they have lost Raina and Harbhajan (Singh)."

On CSK's team combination, former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar said that given the depth that CSK boasts in the spin department, there will be lesser concerns in absence of Harbhajan Singh especially with inclusion of Piyush Chawla in their ranks.

"That kind of experience, quality that you lose, it is going to be a loss, but I think CSK have a lot more cover in that department at least as far as spin is concerned," Agarkar said.

"They have got Piyush Chawla as well that they have brought in. This year they have got (Imran) Tahir, (Mitchell) Santner, so they have got enough spin.

"And they will be hoping that the conditions are in their favour what they get in Chennai, which is a little bit of turn, then those spinners come into play."

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on last year's finalists Chennai Super Kings in the 2020 IPL opener on September 19.