Reports | 11 infected CSK members including Deepak Chahar test negative; Gaikwad yet to recover

Days after finally resuming training, Chennai Super Kings have been handed a major boost as 11 of the 13 personnel from their camp who tested positive for Covid-19 towards the end of August are said to have successfully recovered from the virus and returned to the team hotel. Among those who tested negative for the virus is pacer Deepak Chahar, who was the first Indian international player to have contracted the virus. Youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, is said to be still infected with the virus and is one of two CSK members who is yet to return a negative test result. 

“Apart from Ruturaj and a member of the backroom staff, all those who had tested positive have returned to the team hotel having tested negative. Ruturaj will complete his quarantine in another couple of days,” a source told TOI.

It is believed that the affected members returned two negative results, on the 13th and 14th day of their quarantine, and, as a result, were cleared to join the rest of the camp at the team hotel.

However, despite shrugging off the virus, 28-year-old Chahar has not yet been cleared to join training. In order to eliminate complications, Chahar, as per BCCI’s protocol, is expected to pass cardio tests before being cleared to train with the team ahead of the tournament. 

“Chahar has tested negative for Covid-19. But he can’t start training yet. There are cardio and other BCCI tests that he has to undergo. He can start training only when he completes all those BCCI protocols,” the source added.

The trio of Imran Tahir, Dwayne Bravo and Mitchell Santner, all of who are currently in the Caribbean playing in the CPL, are expected to join the team on September 12. As announced by the BCCI on Sunday, CSK will kick-off proceedings in IPL 2020 against defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 19 at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.