Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will fly to Dubai on August 21 (Friday) to participate in the 13th edition of the IPL. After missing the training camp in Chennai, veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh will also not fly with the team to the UAE.
Three-time IPL champions Chennai organised a camp in the MA Chidambaram Stadium for the Indian players. A couple of players including Harbhajan, Shardul Thakur, and Ravindra Jadeja missed the training camp.
Skipper MS Dhoni seemed extremely happy with the wickets in Chepauk, where the entire squad had a good training leading to the league. The camp will come to an end today and the entire side will fly tomorrow to the UAE.
Harbhajan Singh not to fly with the team
Among the players who missed the camp, Shardul Thakur joined the squad in Chennai on Wednesday while Jadeja is likely to assemble later today. However, a report in the Times of India suggests that Harbhajan Singh’s mother is unwell and will not travel with the squad on Friday. The veteran off-spinner is likely to join the entire team two weeks later.
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has been a shining star ever since he moved to Chennai Super Kings after his 10-year stint with Mumbai Indians. He has played 160 matches in the IPL, picking up 150 wickets at an average of 26.44, with the best bowling figures of five for 18. He has picked up seven wickets in his last five IPL appearances for CSK.
On the other hand, all Chennai Super Kings players have tested negative for COVID-19. The management conducted a mandatory test set by BCCI before the players leave for Dubai.
IPL 2020 will run from September 19 to November 10 in the UAE. BCCI had to move the tournament outside India due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. The cash-rich league will also witness Dream11 as the title sponsors for the very first time.