Indian Premier League: We were treated like gods while playing for Chennai Super Kings, says Suresh Raina

New Delhi: Now that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been suspended from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two years, several key players from the multiple champions will be playing for other franchises in the ninth edition of the tournament.

Speaking to The Times of India, Suresh Raina, the lynchpin of the CSK batting line-up, said that the team management treated the players like superstars and gods.

"Yes, now it's like moving into a different world. We were superstars in Chennai and to understand what I'm saying, one had to be there to see it. It was almost like a different cult, a different religion and we were treated like gods," said Raina, who will be leading Gujarat Lions this year.

The left-handed batsman said that after playing for CSK for eight years, it wasn't an easy task to adjust playing for a new franchise.

"It's not been easy and it's not going to be easy on us (CSK bunch) anytime soon either. It's like leaving one family and going to another. No matter how much love you get in this new family , how can you let go of all the love you received from the Chennai family . The city had become a second home to all of us," he said.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took CSK's performance to a different level under his captaincy, will be leading the Rising Pune Super Giants this year.

The IPL will kick of on April 9 with the first match scheduled to be played between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Rising Super Giants.