Yesterday, a piece of news related to upcoming IPL shocked and worried every cricket fan. Multiple members of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) including fast bowler Deepak Chahar, were tested positive for COVID-19. Then again today it has been confirmed another CSK player Ruturaj Gaekwad has been tested positive for coronavirus.
The entire CSK team landed in Dubai on August 21 and were completing their compulsory 6-day quarantine period before they begin their outdoor training. However, some of the members weren’t protected by the bio-secure bubble and they had they face the consequences.
What Deepak Chahar said before contracting COVID-19
Interestingly, when CSK fast bowler Deepak Chahar posted a photo upon landing in the UAE he wasn’t wearing a face mask to protect himself. When his cousin brother Rahul Chahar, who will be playing for the Mumbai Indians, enquired about social distancing and face mask, he received a shocking reply from the CSK player.
Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar had asked, “Where is your mask bro? Social distancing?
Deepak Chahar replied, “ all have been tested negative bro 2 times and we don’t wear a mask with family”.
Following this tweet, in the next few days, a CSK player and 11 support staff member were tested COVID-19 positive. It is believed that the player that was tested positive was Deepak Chahar himself.
This has resulted in CSK increasing their quarantine period. As a result, the players will have to remain in their hotel room for some more days. Chennai will also miss the service of Suresh Raina, who has pulled out of IPL 2020 owing to personal reasons.
With IPL still 3 weeks away this is a worrying sign as going ahead several more players and other members could be tested positive. Earlier this week RCB skipper Virat Kohli during an online conference with his side had made it very clear about protecting the bio-bubble at all times.
Meanwhile, as by the Standard Operating Procedures that need to be followed throughout the IPL, all persons associated with the competition would undergo a test upon landing in the UAE. They will also conduct tests on days 1, 3 and 6 of their quarantine time at the team hotel. Furthermore, after testing negative in all three tests, the players can start training.