CSK Fly Hussey And Balaji In Air Ambulance, Dhoni Heads To Ranchi As IPL 2021 Stands Postponed

Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ensured everyone in the team left safely to their homes before heading to Ranchi.

The Indian Premier League 2021 has been postponed after players from different teams tested positive for Covid 19. After the announcement by BCCI, players are heading home. However, Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey will have to wait for a COVID-19 negative result before he can leave the country.  To Keep Hussey safe, Chennai Super Kings have flown him from Delhi to Chennai in an air ambulance.

Speaking to ANI, a senior CSK official said that both Hussey and bowling coach L Balaji were flown into Chennai to ensure better control over the situation. The official went on to confirm that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be leaving for Ranchi in the afternoon.

"See, we have better contacts in Chennai, so it was decided to fly both Hussey and Balaji into Chennai in an air ambulance to ensure that if the need arises, we have the facilities ready. Fortunately, they have no symptoms and both are doing fine. But yes, Hussey has to wait to get a negative report before he can leave India. We will arrange a charter when he is safe to fly," the official explained.

"As for MS, he is heading home in the afternoon in a charter we have arranged which will be a hopping flight. It will head from Delhi to Ranchi and from there to Hyderabad. MS was clear that he wanted to wait till everyone left and only then he would leave the bubble we created in Delhi."

Asked about the rest of the foreign players, the official said that charters have been arranged and there is no question of keeping them waiting.

"The safety of the players is a priority and we planned charter planes for all of them. We want them safe and home as soon as possible."

BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday announced to suspended IPL 2021 for this season due to rising Covid-19 concerns in the bio-bubble. 

In an official statement, BCCI said, "The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect."

On Tuesday, SunRisers Hyderabad wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha tested positive after there were COVID-19 cases in two franchises on Monday. While two of the members of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) contingent tested positive, Kolkata Knight Riders players- Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier had tested positive for the virus aftrer which BCCI took the decision to postpone the league bearing a loss of over Rs 2000 crores.

(With ANI inputs)