IPL 2020: MS Dhoni undergoes COVID-19 test, Ravindra Jadeja to miss camp at Chepauk
XtraTime Web Desk: Xtra Time Web Desk: Chennai Super Kings' captain MS Dhoni and Monu Singh underwent a COVID-19 test at their residences in Ranchi on Wednesday. Both their reports are expected on Thursday. They will be allowed to travel to Chennai to attend a short camp at Chepauk starting from August 15, only if their tests come negative. The CSK management is arranging for a pick up of all its players based in and around Delhi and Mumbai by a chartered flight. The same flight will also pick Dhoni and Monu Singh from Ranchi on August 14.
Indian cricket team’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja not to attend Chennai Super Kings' six-day conditioning camp in Chennai ahead of the team’s departure on August 21 to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
The camp will take place between August 15 to 20, where all the squad members of the three-time champions including the team’s captain MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu. In the camp the management will focus on fitness primarily, along with some cricket training too.
"He has personal commitments," ESPNcricinfo quoted CSK chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan as saying, explaining Jadeja's absence. But Jadeja will reach Chennai in time to board the flight to Dubai on August 21.
Viswanthan said the Tamil Nadu government had given written permission to the Super Kings to conduct the camp at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, behind closed doors. Bowling coach L Balaji will be the only member of the coaching staff present at the camp, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Head coach Stephen Fleming and assistant coach Michael Hussey, Viswanathan said, are likely to join the squad in Dubai by August 22.
CSK are expecting two South Africans Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi to join the squad after September 1.
"When we spoke to Faf and Ngidi they said yes, we are coming. They have said that they will only be coming after September 1," Viswanathan said.
The third South African player, Imran Tahir, will join the squad after taking part in the Caribbean Premier League in Trinidad.
Viswanathan also said the South African backroom pair of Eric Simons (bowling consultant) and Greg King (physical trainer) would join the squad in Dubai on August 21.
The 13th edition of the IPL will be played for 53 days, from September 19 to November 10, across three venues -- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai. The final match is scheduled to be played on a weekday, i.e. Tuesday, for the first time in the history of the T20 tournament.
The Emirates Cricket Board had also confirmed that they have received official clearance from the BCCI to host the IPL 2020. The IPL was originally slated to be played from March 29, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With inputs from ANI..
