The IPL 2021 auction is around the corner and all the teams are busy preparing their strategy ahead of the battle at the auction table. Meanwhile, according to reports in InsideSport, Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming will not be available at the auction table. They will be connecting with the other team members digitally as per CSK CEO Kashi Vishwanath. The auction will be held in Chennai on February 18 with the various franchises looking to rope in players who fit the team’s gameplan and requirements.
MS Dhoni-Stephen Fleming To Remain Absent From IPL 2021
Stephen Fleming has been a part of every IPL auction for CSK. However, this time around, he will be unavailable due to restrictions. Speaking to InsideSport, Kashi Vishwanath, CSK’s CEO, confirmed that the duo would stay connected via digital mediums.
“They (Fleming and Dhoni) are not coming to Chennai for IPL Auctions but in today’s time, there are so many mediums to stay connected. They will be with us digitally,” he told InsideSport.
Going into the auction, CSK have a purse of Rs 19.9 crore. They released Kedar Jadhav, Harbhajan Singh, Shane Watson (retired), Piyush Chawla, Murali Vijay and Monu Singh. The three-time IPL champions roped in Robin Uthappa from Rajasthan Royals.
Also Read: Full List Of Released Players Of All Franchises
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be bolstered by the availability of their coach Mike Hesson who has reached India earlier this month and completed his mandatory quarantine. The BCCI has also laid down a set of protocols to be followed for the IPL franchisee members.
“Before checking into their respective rooms, they (those arriving on February 17) will undergo a Rapid Antigen Test followed by an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 at the designated sampling kiosk set up in the hotel by the BCCI’s accredited testing agency. All individuals must quarantine in their respective rooms until results of the RT-PCR tests are available. Typically the reports will be available within 3-4 hours of sample collection” said a mail from the BCCI as per Cricbuzz.
Also Read: IPL 2021: Glenn Maxwell Looking Forward To Play Under Virat Kohli At Royal Challengers Bangalore
