CHENNAI: Covid-19 is making the decisions in preparation for the IPL once again and the teams are feeling the heat, Chennai Super Kings is no exception. The team, which had several positive players prior to the event in the UAE last year, has yet to be affected on that front, but one of its content team members tested positive. However, the officials insisted that it is a small setback, that the bubble did not burst and the member did not come into contact with the players.
But they are finding it difficult to get a replacement for Australian pacemaker Josh Hazlewood due to the increase in the number of cases in Mumbai, where the team is based. It was said that after the Australian bowler withdrew at the last minute, CSK management got in touch with quite a few players who weren’t ready to come to Mumbai.
It is understood that Australian bowler Billy Stanlake was the first to be approached, but was turned down by the Australian. Given the interest of players in joining the IPL, it is unthinkable that a cricketer who is not a regular on his national team would reject a lucrative offer to play for CSK. Covid is definitely one of the reasons behind the player’s reluctance to go down. Another player he reached out to was pacemaker Reece Topley, who was part of England’s limited team in the recently concluded ODI series against India.
“Many of them have contracts with England county teams and permits are not granted due to the increasing number of Covid cases,” a source close to the developments told TOI. However, CSK has not given up hope and is trying to find a decent replacement. “We may have to go for a wild card and we can get one soon enough. But problems persist,” the source added.
However, the team is doing their best to make sure they don’t have to deal with a situation like last year, when the preparations of the first team like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar were badly affected by Covid.
Rusty Raina can find a place in XI
Suresh Raina, who returned from the UAE before the IPL last season due to “personal reasons”, has been out of practice and is trying to get back to Mumbai. He did not join players like MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu when they were training in Chennai and now has a race against time in Mumbai to be ready for the first game.
While Dhoni has had 24 two-hour hitting sessions since March to get back on track, Raina only had two and he’s not making it any easier for him. But CSK wants to use his experience and that is why he was retained for this season despite last year’s fiasco. There are a couple of practice games for CSK before their first game on April 10 and the feeling is that they will be ready before the ball rolls.
Jadeja fits, Ruturaj opens
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja, who is returning from injury, has looked good in practice sessions in Mumbai and the team management does not care about his physical condition. “He hit and pitched in the nets and he looked pretty good in that. He will definitely be part of the XI game,” added the source. Meanwhile, starter Ruturaj Gaikwad, who impressed during the latter part of the IPL last season, is almost certain to start this time.
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