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Update comes after CPL terminated its participation agreement with the owners of the island’s franchise

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2019St Lucia Zouks will make a return to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), replacing St Lucia Stars for the upcoming season.Zouks was the name of the original franchise from St Lucia when the league was launched in 2013. In 2016, Stars replaced Zouks, but last week the CPL terminated its participation agreement with Royal Sports Club, LLC, the entity that operates the St Lucia franchise.CPL didn’t elaborate on the reasons behind Stars’ termination, but said it was “in the process of establishing and operating a new franchise to be based in St Lucia” for the upcoming season, which begins on September 4.Jay Pandya, the chief executive and owner of Royal Sports Club, LLC, termed the CPL decision “an attempt to bully us”, one which, he said, the franchise would fight legally. “CPL Limited has absolutely no basis, legal or otherwise, to terminate our contractual rights to operate St Lucia Stars,” Pandya told ESPNcricinfo. “We vehemently dispute CPL’s decision and will use all means necessary to vindicate our rights. This is an attempt to bully us, plain and simple. We are confident in our position and look forward to securing justice against CPL’s blatantly illegal act in the appropriate court of law.”

Edin Terzic's fine work at Borussia Dortmund has attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League, according to a report in Germany.

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German coach impressing at DortmundGuided them to Champions League finalEnglish teams considering an approachWHAT HAPPENED?

After guiding the Bundesliga team to the Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid, the German manager's stock has risen drastically. However, he has faced criticism in his homeland for only securing a fifth-place finish in the German top-flight this season, after they missed out on the Bundesliga title on goal difference by drawing their final game of the campaign the previous year.

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Terzic is feeling underappreciated at Dortmund, according to , and if he wants to depart for a new challenge, he could find joy in the Premier League. Manchester United and Leicester are already showing interest in him, the report says, with the former considering replacing Erik ten Hag this summer and the latter on the lookout for a new boss after seeing Enzo Maresca leave for Chelsea.

WHAT TERZIC SAID

Terzic recently reiterated his intention to stay where he is for the time being, saying: "As long as Borussia Dortmund wants me to be the coach of Borussia Dortmund, I will be the coach of Borussia Dortmund."

However, he has also insisted that he wants to win trophies in the next couple of years. Should he opt to leave, his assistant Nuri Sahin has been touted as a possible successor, but Dortmund would rather go into the 2024-25 campaign with the current coaching team in charge.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TERZIC?

Terzic has delivered one trophy while Dortmund coach – the DFB-Pokal in 2021 – and will hope to turn the team into title challengers next season should he remain in charge at the club beyond this summer.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that he would be open to a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia in the future.

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De Bruyne discusses riches on offer in SaudiHas one year on his Man City contractWife Michele also open to moveGetty WHAT HAPPENED?

There is one year remaining on De Bruyne's contract at Man City, and the Saudi Pro League is very interested in him as they try to build on their success and attract the world's top players to their league. The City star has confirmed he plans to finish his contract in Manchester, which will take him to a decade of service at the club. However, the Belgian is now pondering life after City, and has admitted to talking to his wife Michele about potential next destinations, including Saudi Arabia.

AdvertisementWHAT DE BRUYNE SAID

Speaking to Belgian publication HLN, De Bruyne said: "For Michele, an exotic adventure is okay. These are also conversations that we are increasingly having as a family.

"I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. My eldest is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play for City. Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way."

Pressed on the possibility of entertaining the Saudi Pro League's interest in his services, De Bruyne added: "At my age you have to be open to everything. You're talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.

"If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet. Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven't had to think about that yet.”

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De Bruyne could join the ever-growing list of elite European players to make the switch to the Middle East, which includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Aleksandar Mitrovic. He has also been linked to Major League Soccer's expansion side San Diego FC, but the financial package on offer in Saudi is likely to be far greater.

WHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?

The Belgian will have another year to ponder his future and hold conversations with clubs, his family and advisors to make the correct decision. However, for now, he will turn his attention to the Euros with Belgium as he looks to win his first international title.

After Pandey’s hundred and Gill’s fifty carried India A to 295 for 6, Krunal tore up West Indies A’s chase with 5 for 25

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2019
Three days before the selectors meet to pick India’s senior squad for the Caribbean tour, Manish Pandey, the A team captain, made a statement with an 86-ball century that fashioned a 148-run victory. Opener Shubman Gill also staked his claim for higher honours with his second successive half-century in the West Indies to follow up an unbeaten 109 against Sri Lanka A at home last month. After the two batsmen carried India A to 295 for 6, Krunal Pandya wrecked West Indies A’s chase with 5 for 25 in seven overs. The 148-run win meant India wrapped up the five one-day series with two games remaining.ALSO READ: India’s selectors to meet on July 19After opting to bat, India A lost Anmolpreet Singh for a duck in the third over, but Gill and No.3 Shreyas Iyer forged a 109-run stand to give the innings direction. Iyer, who made a brisk 77 in the tour opener, was more sedate on Tuesday, scoring 47 off 69 balls. The stand ended when Iyer was dismissed by offspin-bowling allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall in the 27th over. Pandey and Gill then took charge of the innings, putting on a 110-run stand to take the team towards 250.While Gill fell 23 short of a hundred, Pandey reached the landmark off 86 balls, in the last over of the innings. Seamer Romario Shepherd then pinned him lbw with an inswinging yorker off his next ball to keep the visitors to under 300.With West Indies selector Robert Haynes in attendance, John Campbell and Sunil Ambris have the A team a positive start by adding 51 for the first wicket. Ambris was the more aggressive opener, making 30 off 32 balls before he was trapped lbw by Avesh Khan. However, fingerspinners Krunal, Washington Sundar, and Hanuma Vihari tore up the middle and lower order as West Indies A went from 51 for 0 to 117 for 9.With No.11 Akeem Jordan for company, Keemo Paul launched some big blows and top-scored with 34 off 16 balls, dragging his side to 147. It was Vihari who sealed the victory when he had Paul holing out in the 35th over. Ambris and Paul were the only West Indies A batsmen to pass 25 in the chase.

Rain wreaks havoc on Championship fixtures around the country

Paul Edwards10-Jun-2019
All day it has rained, and we on the edge of the field
Sprawl in our press-tent, gloom quite unconcealed,
Laptops and notebooks spread on tables round
And from our first grey wanderings we have found
No refuge from the skirmishing fine rain
And the breeze that makes the canvas heave and flap
And the claustral fug that makes a journo’s temper snap.Alun Lewis’s great poem deserves vastly more respect but a drenched Guildford encourages irreverence.The wonder this day was that we ever thought of playing. The rain which had ruled the weather since dawn ceased at around eleven o’clock but it returned within twenty minutes and mocked the groundstaff’s efforts in removing covers and hoisting practice nets. The outfield was left to the starlings and they pecked greedily at the wet earth.Behind the pavilion clouds jostled for dominance over The Mount and the North Downs. The sky turned that darker grey which almost always presages heavy rain. The players lunched early, no doubt knowing their departure for the day would also be brought forward. Surrey skipper Rory Burns lives nearby and opted to monitor events from home. We heard rumbles of thunder. To walk around the boundary was to invite a soaking.There were, though, signs of convivial life in the hospitality tents. Some people arrange to meet old friends on days like these – Surrey v Yorkshire still carries a certain élan – and there was no reason whatever to abandon those plans. The Surrey Dining Club prepared to feast and the southern branch of Yorkshire’s Supporters Club continued its missionary work in darkest Woking.This is only Yorkshire’s third visit to Guildford and they have lost the other two, in 1991 and 2002. Indeed, it must be one of the few grounds in the country where they have yet to register a victory. Until, say, 1980, these counties exercised such a stranglehold on the County Championship that it would have been unthinkable to play this fixture anywhere but The Oval, where a large crowd would watch one of the biggest games of the year; as big as a Test Match, some players said.Those battles and many others will have kept the luncheon crowds happy as they eased their present disappointment with a glass or two of the good stuff. This is the 99th first-class match at Woodbridge Road. The first was played in July 1938 when Bob Gregory took seven wickets with his leg-breaks to help Surrey defeat Hampshire by an innings. Hampshire have paid 16 further visits to Guildford, a tally rivalled only by Sussex, who have played here 14 times.Early afternoon. The rain has abated to heavy drizzle. On the square, the already sopping groundstaff are weighing down the covers. A cherry and blue South Western Trains service rumbles across the railway bridge on the far side of the ground. It is easily the most brightly coloured object anyone has seen all day.Elsewhere in England, play was abandoned for the day on some grounds – both of the other Division One matches between Nottinghamshire and Hamphire and Kent and Somerset – among them. Important games are going to be wrecked over the next four days. Peter Roebuck once described cricket in England as “a dry game in a wet land.”On the other hand, “the sun’ll come out tomorrow,” wrote the lyricist Martin Charnin. This week no one is betting even their topmost dollar on it.

The Three Lions manager has taken no prisoners with a statement squad which has left no room for underperforming heroes of the past

Gareth Southgate has left his past behind and embraced the future by naming a bold and exciting provisional England squad for the European Championship. Jordan Henderson is gone, probably for good, while Raheem Sterling's international career has just received its winding up order. But if those exclusions could have been envisaged, the absence of Marcus Rashford has sent shockwaves through English football.

Even though he has had a dismal season for Manchester United, Rashford has mostly remained a regular starter for Erik ten Hag. But Southgate has shown no mercy, punishing the forward for his remarkable drop-off this season and giving a simple explanation: "I just feel other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons. That’s it".

Southgate has an embarrassment of riches available to him in attack, with Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon fully deserving their places in the squad at Rashford's expense. The coach has also recalled the sparkling Eberechi Eze and given a surprise call-up to his Crystal Palace team-mate Adam Wharton.

There's no place for Eric Dier, but Southgate has shown faith with young centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarrell Quansah. The manager has not completely overhauled his squad though, and it is telling that he has pinned his faith on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw making full recoveries after injury-ravaged seasons.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the England squad announcement…

GettyLOSER: Marcus Rashford

Rashford has had an almighty fall from grace after a stunning previous campaign in which he scored a career high of 30 goals. But since penning a lucrative contract at Old Trafford, he has taken his eye off the ball and gone backwards. Being dropped from the England squad weeks before a major tournament has to be his lowest point.

Even with his huge slump in form and the repeated questions about his attitude, Rashford is a lethal player on his day and has been an England regular for tournaments, albeit not always a starter, since he broke through as an 18-year-old in 2016.

He has, however, been off-form for most of the season and has often looked like a player lacking desire and hunger. His tequila-fuelled night out in Belfast which led to him missing training also underlined his lack of professionalism, something which has been of increasing concern within the last year.

Lest we forget, Rashford was a national hero in 2020 for campaigning on food poverty amid the pandemic, and fans rallied to him after he faced shocking social media abuse after missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout. He was one of the poster-boys of the likeable new generation which Southgate has brought through. But now the coach has decided that he does not want him around the squad, a damning indictment of how his status has faded in the last year.

AdvertisementGetty WINNER: Gareth Southgate

Despite being England's most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, Southgate has lacked support from many sections of the England fanbase because of the perception that he had too much faith in the old guard and gave under-performing players a pass over upstarts who were banging on the door.

Not anymore. Southgate has emphatically broken with his past tendencies and made a real statement with this squad. Henderson's exclusion might have been expected as was Sterling's, but leaving out Rashford is a massive decision. But it is also difficult to argue with, and Southgate has rewarded Bowen and Gordon, who registered 22 and 21 goal contributions in the Premier League this season, respectively, compared to Rashford's measly tally of nine.

The England manager has sent out a clear message that reputation and past contributions are not enough to make it into his squad, and that form is the most important factor. And it means that whatever happens in Germany, he will know he picked the top performing players at the time and not the most recognised names.

GettyLOSER: Jordan Henderson

Henderson must have known his England career was at risk when he moved to Al-Ettifaq last summer, but decided to go for it anyway, burning his bridges with the LGBTQ+ community in the process. He ultimately chose greed over continuing at the highest level and has been rightly punished for it.

Henderson did realise his mistake and ultimately chose to cut short his sojourn in Saudi Arabia after just five months, but the disruption took its toll on his performance levels and he was a huge disappointment for Ajax, the nadir coming when he was roasted by a television reporter after a dismal showing in a 2-2 draw with Fortuna Sittard.

He missed England's March friendlies due to injury, but that was a blessing in disguise for Southgate, who would have faced criticism had he continued to show faith in Henderson amid his plummeting form. This was, therefore, an easy decision for the manager in the end.

On the one hand it is sad to see such an experienced player, who had been part of the squad for every major tournament since 2012, end his England career in this way. But Henderson only has himself to blame.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Crystal Palace

Just three months ago, it would have been very hard to believe that Crystal Palace would have as many players in the England squad as Manchester City. The Eagles were 16th in the Premier League table and had won just six games out of 24 when Roy Hodgson stepped down and was succeeded by Oliver Glasner.

But the Austrian has dramatically transformed the team's fortunes, inspiring them to win six of their final seven games while remaining unbeaten, scoring 21 goals and conceding just three. Palace sparked the end of Liverpool's title bid and then destroyed Manchester United before rounding off the season by hammering Aston Villa. And some of the leading lights of that stunning revival have been rewarded with a place in Southgate's squad.

Eberechi Eze has played for England before and it's no surprise to see him back in the fold after scoring five goals and setting up two in the run-in. Marc Guehi has also been capped before and will be one of the most coveted defenders when the transfer window opens this summer.

Adam Wharton's inclusion, however, was somewhat unexpected, although he is also worthy of his place and can pick up the baton from Henderson in holding midfield. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson has also played a big role in the Eagles' turnaround and should be in line to go to Germany ahead of James Trafford after his club-mate Sam Johnstone was ruled out through injury.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's agent has confirmed it will take an offer which satisfies all parties for his client to depart Napoli this summer.

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Kvaratskhelia joined in 2022Linked with PSG moveHelped Napoli win 2022/23 Serie A titleWHAT HAPPENED?

The Georgian international has been heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain as the French club look to secure a replacement for the outgoing Kylian Mbappe. Kvaratskhelia caught the world's attention last season as he played a starring role in Napoli's first Serie A triumph in over 30 years. While the Neapolitans have struggled this term, currently sitting ninth in the table, the winger has still recorded 10 goals and six assists in 32 league appearances.

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Prying Kvaratskhelia away from Naples will not be easy, though, as his current deal runs through to 2027. However, the terms of the deal are the same as when he joined from Dinamo Batumi in the summer of 2022. With Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis not desperate to enter renewal negotiations, there is a chance the Georgian could look to force a move away.

WHAT HIS AGENT SAID

But per TMW, his agent Mamuka Jugeli said: “We are in no hurry to make a decision because Naples in Khvicha’s second home. We appreciate the care and respect that Napoli and Mr. President have shown towards Khvicha. Only if there is an offer that satisfies the club, the player and if De Laurentiis is not against it, will we consider it."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NAPOLI?

Napoli will look to end their tough season on a high with wins against Fiorentina and Lecce in their final two Serie A fixtures. But Francesco Calzona's side are unable to qualify for next season's Champions League, a predicament which could see the likes of Kvaratskhelia and star striker Victor Osimhen plot moves elsewhere this summer.

Sam Curran’s unbeaten 55 off 24 had given Kings XI a competitive total but KKR’s top order make short work of it

The Report by Danyal Rasool03-May-2019
The most pleasing thing about this game were the cameos – the half-century on either side, one score in the high 40s apiece, and – for good measure – an eye-catching cameo from Andre Russell. In a game brimming with high-class batting, Kings XI Punjab set Kolkata Knight Riders what looked a challenging target of 184. Nicholas Pooran’s 27-ball 48 – half of it coming in sixes – saw Kings XI on top early on, before a sumptuously intelligent 24-ball 55 not out from Sam Curran helped his side power to 183. Sunil Narine and Sandeep Warrier had stifled the innings through the Powerplay, but Kings XI’s success at building partnerships following the early dismissals of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul ensured they remained on track to post a competitive total.It was then something of a pity the bowlers couldn’t back that up and deliver the result Kings XI so desperately needed to keep realistic hopes of qualification alive. Chris Lynn has found himself in a run of form his side had desperately needed after losing their way through the group stages, with four half-centuries in the last seven innings. He fell four short of that mark today, but in 28 destructive balls, he had helped Knight Riders to 62 in the Powerplay. From thereon, Shubman Gill took over.Ensuring Lynn’s wicket did not result in a slump of the run rate, Gill worked the field expertly for the next six overs or so, with the occasional risk paying off. Handy contributions from Robin Uthappa and Russell helped, but it was Gill’s unbeaten 65 that saw Knight Riders all the way through, and while the game ended two overs early, the outcome – seven-wicket Knight Riders win – had been clear for the best part of the final hour.Shubman’s teenage kicksIt’s fair to say Shubnam came into this year’s IPL with something of a reputation to defend, having already made his international debut a few weeks ago. The way the tournament panned out hadn’t quite matched the hype though, with a pair of half-centuries interspersed with a string of underwhelming scores. Tonight, he allowed Chris Lynn to do the early damage while biding his time at the other end, and by the end of the 12th over, Gill had accumulated just 34 off 31.It was only then that he saw fit to launch, with no less than R Ashwin the chosen target for the teenager’s aggression. He charged Ashwin’s first ball to loft it in the air over long-on. A second six went over backward square leg two balls later, and the half-century was brought up with a late cut that would have had the MCC members purring on the first morning of a Test match. Even as the wickets fell at the other end, Knight Riders’ youngest team member had assumed the role of senior player, and eventually saw them through to the end.Curran’s cerebral knockTwenty-year-old Sam Curran’s fresh-faced demeanour and slight build aren’t exactly redolent of a typical power hitter, but in conjuring up that absorbing unbeaten 24-ball 55, he managed the best strike rate across an innings for Kings XI all season. Each ball was like a chess move, and Curran was one step ahead most of the way. He used his feet to scoop over fine leg, took the pace of the bowler in his strike to whack him over the top, and found angles to manoeuvre the ball into gaps Ashwin might have thought were impossible to pierce.The final over from Harry Gurney was such an astonishing display of mental dominance over the bowler it became impossible to tell whether Gurney was bowling badly or Curran playing the innings of the season. The last six balls yielded 22 as a discombobulated Gurney knew not which variation to try, and in the moment, it appeared to have powered Kings XI to a total that looked slightly above par.Gayle gone earlyPerhaps the most telling blow struck all evening was executed in the first 15 minutes. In a game that would see several players produce vital knocks, a half hour at the crease for Chris Gayle might have been enough to see Kings XI home. Instead, a pair of boundaries in the first over was his lot as Gayle struggles with Gurney’s varied pace and Narine’s guile, with the big man getting frustrated at his failure to find the middle of his bat more regularly. Sandeep Warrier, who had a couple of overs ago sent KL Rahul back to the pavilion, pitched one short of a length to Gayle.It was perhaps shorter than intended, and Gayle would have backed himself to clear the ropes. But with what had happened in the first three overs, Gayle jabbed at the ball early, eager to get himself going. The fielder at deep-backward square had been positioned exactly for that scenario, and it was the first of a number of plans that came together for a Knight Riders’ side that suddenly appear up and running in the tournament again.

USMNT star Josh Sargent's is suddenly a doubt for the Copa America after picking up an ankle injury for Norwich City on Thursday evening.

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Norwich fall to Leeds in Championship playoff semifinalSargent leaves match at halftime with ankle injuryAmerican a doubt for Copa America nowWHAT HAPPENED?

Norwich lost 4-0 to Leeds on Thursday in the second leg of their English Championship playoff semifinal, meaning the Canaries will be stuck in the second division of England for another season in 2024/25. Less than 24 hours after the final whistle, Norwich announced the sacking of head coach David Wagner, too. But more worryingly, Sargent left the field at halftime of the match with a recurrence of an ankle injury that hit him in March.

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The Athletic reports that he's now a doubt for the USMNT at this summer's marquee event. Regardless, his campaign was a brilliant one and it will ultimately go down as one of progress – despite the setbacks. The American was sidelined for nearly five months to begin the season, but an emphatic five-month stretch in 2024 saw him score at a prolific rate to send the Canaries climbing towards the top of the table. With 16 league goals, the U.S. international helped earn them a spot in the playoffs, but it wasn't enough to get them over the line.

WHAT DAVID WAGNER SAID

“We have managed him more or less the whole time since he got back from his injury. I think everyone knows this. It is great credit to Josh with what he has done and how hard he has worked. What this means now for the summer? At the minute I have no idea. There is going to be for sure some thorough investigations and assessment of him, to see how serious it is and what he has to do to come back to his best in pre-season.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Sargent has not appeared for the USMNT since 2022, as injuries have hampered his availability. 2024 was supposed to be his return, but a tough string of luck may have hit him again.

The Chennai Super Kings batsman struck form after a lean season and lauded Dhoni’s support at the crease against Delhi Capitals

Sruthi Ravindranath in Chennai02-May-20195:56

Important to rotate strike and play smartly in Chennai – Raina

Nearly all the accolades, on social media and on commentary, after Wednesday’s match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals were reserved for MS Dhoni. The 80-run Super Kings win had it all, when it came to Dhoni: smart captaincy moves, the now-familiar boundary hitting at the death and the blink-and-you-miss-it stumpings. He was named Player of the Match. But he did not steal all the thunder this time. Two old Super Kings hands delivered after a long wait. Suresh Raina scored a well-crafted 37-ball 59 and Ravindra Jadeja’s abilities were on full display, too: a 10-ball 25, returns of 3 for 9 and athleticism on the field.At Super Kings’ den at Chepauk, it is Raina who is the crowd’s favourite after Dhoni, the to Dhoni’s . The cheers Dhoni gets at Chepauk are unmatched, but the only other player who gets close is Raina. He is the highest run-scorer for Super Kings and has consistently been among the top run-getters in nearly every season. This year, however, things have been quite different. Before the match against Capitals, Raina had made 247 runs in 12 games, with one half-century. In the two matches he captained, he looked out of sorts and fell cheaply. Under his captaincy, they lost their first home game of the season.Moreover, there have been questions on the Super Kings’ performances without Dhoni. They have been heavily reliant on their captain, who has done the bulk of the scoring this season. Raina, his deputy, stepped in as captain for two matches but was unsuccessful and there were doubts on whether Raina was feeling the heat without Dhoni.BCCIOn Wednesday, Raina addressed these questions with the bat, and later, at the press conference.”I think I’ve done well for Gujarat Lions as well as a few games for India,” Raina said after the match. “Losing him [Dhoni] as a captain is not an issue, losing him as a batter is always difficult for us.”That’s what happened in those games we lost. He gives us a lot of freedom to play and when he enters, he creates pressure on the opposition. I’ve done well as a captain but I didn’t perform with the bat in those two games. When he’s not there in the team you see the difference. He’s done very well as a captain and a mentor. You’ll probably see me more next season when he says, ‘Okay, I’m done but now you look after.'”So has Dhoni given him any hint about the forthcoming season? “No, it’s not about the hint. It’s as long as he wants to play. You know how he is,” Raina said.And how does Dhoni’s captaincy affect Raina?”See, I’ve played for India under his captaincy, he knows my game, he knows how to plan in the middle overs. He tells me what to do there. He always gives the right sort of advice. Today I told him I felt confident against left-arm spinners, because [Amit] Mishra was bowling really well and he wasn’t giving me any flight with the ball, so I thought let’s take a chance and hit a couple of boundaries. I then told Dhoni ‘I’m going to go hard at him [left-arm spinner J Suchith] because I feel more confident’. He lets you play freely but at the same time gives advice about certain things, which is good to follow.”At the end of 10 overs against Capitals, Super Kings had 53 on the board and had lost Shane Watson for a duck. The Capitals’ spinners were taking control on a slow Chepauk surface but Raina began to change the tempo of the innings, by hitting J Suchith and Chris Morris for boundaries. Once Raina fell, Jadeja joined Dhoni at the crease, and his elevation to No. 5 seemed like another tactical move given Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav’s dip in form. That move paid off as the duo added 43 off 3.4 overs, and helped Super Kings amass 77 runs off the last overs to finish on 179.BCCI”My plan was to just play through the Powerplay,” Raina said. “They have a few spinners and good-quality fast bowlers. That was the plan, just to stick and rotate the strike. That’s what I was telling Faf too: ‘No need to block the ball. If you’re not getting it, just be in positive intent.’ That’s how he hit two sixes. I think it’s important to play smart cricket in Chennai. After every six overs, the game changes.”Super Kings’ concerns aren’t limited to Rayudu and Jadhav’s form. Openers Watson and Faf du Plessis also have just one half-century to their name. Raina believed this was due to the tough home conditions, with turning tracks in play at Chepauk since the start of the IPL.”Last year we played in two different venues. We played in Pune, where the climate was good, and now in Chennai. In Chennai, you need a lot of character especially when it comes to fitness. Mentally, your character has to be up all the time. You need to constantly rotate the strike. If you have wickets in hand you can always score those extra 30-40 runs and that’s what we did [against Capitals].”The weather has played a key role for us. Take Watson for instance, he played very well for us last year. This year here [in Chennai] he’s been getting good starts but has not been able to convert. But we’ve been bowling really well. This is the best bowling line-up we’ve been having for the last couple of years.”