Raina off to Holland for wife's pregnancy; could miss first-ever IPL match

At the post-match conference after his Gujarat Lions flattened rivals Kolkata Knight Riders, Raina said, "I'm flying to Holland to meet my wife tomorrow and I'm all excited," at the post-match interview at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Raina, who had been with the Chennai Super Kings until this season, had won two titles with the Chennai-based team before he was made captain of the newly formed Gujarat Lions team. Handling his first captaincy role, Raina has done quite well as his Lions sit comfortably atop the points table after 11 matches.

The southpaw has been one of the greatest players of the IPL, holding the record for the highest number of runs scored in the league at 3,985 runs at an average of 33.48. However, his ninth season has been below par by his standards as he has notched up only one half-century in 11 matches so far.

With Raina missing the match, it is expected that team-mate Brendon McCullum would pick up the captain's cap for their upcoming match on 14th against the Royal Challengers.