It has been testing times for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the thirteenth season of the IPL in the UAE as over a dozen of their members including 2 players tested positive for coronavirus and hence delayed their preparations a bit for the forthcoming season.


With seamer Deepak Chahar having returned negative for Coronavirus and joining back the team's bio secure bubble to train with the rest of the squad in Dubai, batsman Ruturaj Gaekwaad is yet to undergo his two mandatory tests.

As per the medical protocols laid down by the BCCI and to be strictly followed by all the eight IPL franchises in UAE amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Ruturaj will have to return negative in the two Covid-19 tests and then only join back the team's bio secure bubble in Dubai. Meanwhile, all the 11 staff members who had contracted the novel virus infection have recovered from the infection and have joined back the team in their hotel at Dubai.

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Gaekwad would also have to adhere to the SOPs in places and the CSK batsman will have to undergo cardiovascular and lung function tests to prove his fitness upon clearing his 2 mandatory coronavirus tests.

"Ruturaj will undergo two tests as per protocol, today and tomorrow. If he tests negative, he will be back in team hotel bubble. The other staff members have tested negative and are now back to normal. They are back in team bubble," CSK CEO KS Viswanthan said on Sunday, as quoted by PTI.

Gaekwad, who is a regular member of the India A team tested positive for coronavirus a few days after fellow CSK teammate Chahar.