Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Suresh Raina returned to India on Saturday and will not play the 13th season of the Indian Premier League due to personal reasons. Reacting to Raina’s return, Australian cricketer Shane Watson said, “I woke up this morning to a really sad news that Suresh Raina is heading back to India for personal reasons. My heart goes out to you, Suresh I hope you would be okay.”

Raina had arrived in the UAE on August 21 with other teammates of CSK to play the tournament, which will start from September 19 and conclude on November 11. Watson posted a video on Instagram, and wrote, “Thinking of you Suresh. @sureshraina3 – you and your family are in my thoughts. You will be dearly missed here @chennaiipl. You have always been the heartbeat of the team so we will be doing everything we can to make you proud. Take care mate and stay safe.”

Watson said that Raina is the heart of the CSK and he will be missed by the IPL tournament as well. “You have been here since the start. You are the heart of the team and you are also gonna be missed by the IPL tournament as well. You are such a star of the IPL but most important is your well-being and I hope you are gonna be okay.”

Unavailability of Suresh comes as a huge blow to the CSK as earlier, at least 13 members of the Chennai-based franchise tested positive for coronavirus, including two players. Among the infected is a current India limited-overs cricketer, sources said. CSK will therefore have to extend their quarantine period in Dubai till September 1, ahead of the start of the tournament.