XtraTime Web Desk: Rituraj Gaikwad was one of the two players who was tested positive for Covid-19 after Chennai Super Kings landed in UAE. Today, after passing two mandatory Covid-19 tests, Rituraj has finally joined the training ahead of Tuesday’s fixture against Rajasthan Royals.
The young boy from Maharashtra had to stay in quarantine for two weeks before joining the rest of the team in the nets. Thus, he missed the opening match against defending champions Mumbai Indians on Saturday but Chennai had no problem beating the Mumbai team.
“The first thing you wanna see on a Monday morning. Look who’s back! Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes #Ruturaj #WhistlePodu #Yellove,” CSK posted on their Twitter handle on Monday along with a picture of the batsman.
Thirteen members of the CSK contingent tested positive for the dreaded virus and two of them were players – Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar. Chahar, along with 11 others, had recovered and was back in training and played the opening game after clearing his mandatory two tests.
However, Gaikwad, who was in isolation at a separate quarantine facility in Dubai, had to wait longer.
Gaikwad, a India ‘A’ regular, who tested positive a few days after Chahar, was being touted as the one to replace Suresh Raina, who pulled out of the IPL due to personal reasons.
The young right-handed batsman is said to have impressed the CSK skipper MS Dhoni during the camp in Chennai prior to their departure to the UAE.
According to IPL’s medical protocols, players are kept in separate quarantine facility for 14 days if they test positive in the bubble and have to return two negative tests on consecutive days.
After that, the player has to undergo medical tests, including cardiovascular and lung function test, to ensure he is fit to train.
With inputs from PTI