CRICKET
Chennai Super Kings contingent have all tested coronavirus negative and they will probably resume training on September 4 but 13 members, including Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, have tested coronavirus positive and will be kept in isolation.
There was massive relief for IPL 2020 and Chennai Super Kings as all members of the existing contingent have tested negative for the coronavirus. However, the 13 members who tested positive earlier in the week have remained coronavirus positive. Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, as well as most of the members who tested positive are from the social media team of the franchise and other staff who are not related to coaching duties. Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, “All others, apart from the 13, have tested negative for COVID-19. They will have to undergo another test on Thursday, September 3. We are likely to start training on Friday, September 4. Deepak and Ruturaj will complete their 14-day quarantine and then join training after two negative tests as per protocol,” Viswanathan said.
This development comes as huge relief for the Chennai Super Kings, whose preparations have been thrown into disarray because of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the squad have had to cope with the sudden departure of their star player Suresh Raina. The left-hander will be unavailable for the entire edition of IPL 2020 as he felt wary about spending a large amount of time in the bio-bubble and his problems were compounded with the loss of his uncle, who was murdered in Pathankot, Punjab.
IPL development
This latest development is good news as it puts IPL 2020 back on track. Chennai Super Kings will be hoping that the tests conducted on September 3 are favourable and that they resume practice on September 4. All the other sides have been training for the last couple of days. Six out of the eight teams, except for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, are based in Dubai. The matches for the IPL will take place in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.
It is expected that Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings in the opening game of IPL 2020 but the schedule is not yet out. There are reports that the schedule could be out in the next few days.