IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings leave for UAE for final phase of cash-rich tournament

As the final phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is all set to begin in the UAE, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Mumbai side will have a month-long preparatory camp in Abu Dhabi. They took to Twitter and shared a video captioned, "Off we go! The countdown has begun".

Off we go! 
The countdown has begun #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/U74EFFl9FM

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) August 13, 2021

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are another franchise that left for Dubai on Friday from Chennai. They will prepare for the remaining leg of IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The three-time IPL champions shared a black and white picture of captain MS Dhoni seen with a suitcase at the airport. "Get ready folks!" CSK tweeted. Dhoni had arrived in Chennai on Tuesday with the franchise posting a picture with the caption as 'Lion Day Entry.'

MAS DXB

Get ready folks! #UrsAnbudenEverywhere#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/HmI569morL

— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) August 13, 2021

Chennai Super Kings also shared pictures of Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, and KM Asif waiting at the airport to board the flight to Dubai.

Mode ON#UrsAnbudenEverywhere#WhistlePodu #Yellove  pic.twitter.com/yHE4c2Qk4X

— Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) August 13, 2021

After retiring from international cricket on August 15 last year, Dhoni and Raina now only plays in the IPL though the latter appeared in a few Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 matches for Uttar Pradesh.

Chennai Super Kings will be back in action when the UAE leg of the IPL resumes on September 19 against Mumbai Indians in Dubai. 

The second half of the IPL 2021 will be held in UAE after the outbreak of COVID-19 in various team bubbles at Ahmedabad and New Delhi. Chennai is currently at second place in the points table with 10 points from seven matches.

(Inputs from IANS)