IPL 2020: CSK pacer Deepak Chahar tested positive for COVID-19

The news of members of Chennai Super Kings support staff including a fast bowler testing positive for the novel coronavirus had shaken the entire cricket fraternity on August 28, 2020 (Friday). Initially, the name of the player was not revealed which resulted in a lot of speculations regarding the name of the infected paceman.

It was a huge blow for the MS Dhoni-led side as they’ll now have no option but to wait before kicking off their IPL 2020 preparations. The Yellow Army will now have to be in quarantine for another week. While the members who have tested positive have been kept in isolation for a period of 14 days.

Putting a full stop to all the speculations and rumours surrounding the name of the player contracting the virus, a report by Times of India suggests that the player is none other than Indian paceman, Deepak Chahar, who has represented the nation in three ODIs and 10 T20Is.

Chahar will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, and after that will have to test negative for the virus, twice in a span of 14 hours. A source close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has cleared the air regarding the threat to the commencement of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League from September 19.

“Adequate measures are in place to tackle the situation and there is no immediate threat to the tournament. But the announcement of fixtures has been delayed because of this development,” a top BCCI source said.

Senior BCCI officials had cautioned the CSK management

Chennai Super Kings was the only team among the eight IPL franchises to organize a special training camp for their players before leaving for UAE. CSK had conducted a six-day conditioning camp for its players at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Speaking on the same, the source insisted that BCCI had cautioned the CSK management regarding the same but the management reasoned that all the players have tested negative for the virus before departure.

“Senior BCCI officials had cautioned the CSK management about the risks of holding such a camp in India. There are many players who were coming from a long lay-off. The likes of MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina had played very little cricket even before the lockdown in March. That’s why CSK insisted on having the camp, to have a few extra days under their belt,” a source said.

Clearing the stance of the CSK management and the players, a CSK source said that the players are preparing themselves mentally and very much prepared to participate in the cash-rich league.