BACK TO BASICS Did not miss cricket, says Virat
CSK likely to start training this weekend
After a series of setbacks, Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday moved a step closer to kicking off their IPL preparations. While the 13 Coronavirus-infected members who are staying in a separate hotel in isolation will be tested only after the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, the rest of the team cleared another test on Tuesday.
Chennai Super Kings CEO K. S. Viswanathan said there will be one more test on Thursday.
“Only after we get the test result on Friday can we confirm the training date. Hopefully, we will be able to hit the ground this weekend. Two players who are currently in isolation can join later if they clear the tests,” Viswanathan told this newspaper.
While their rivals have already begun their preparations, CSK are in an extended room quarantine. Viswanathan said the support staff, led by coach Stephen Fleming and his deputy Michael Hussey, are engaging players in online sessions.
“Apart from that, our trainer and physio are giving instructions over Zoom calls on how to train indoors,” said Viswanathan.
Viswanathan said Super Kings will definitely play warm-up games if the organisers can arrange them. “I think all the teams want to play some warm-up games,” he added.
The CSK team management hasn’t decided if they need a replacement for Suresh Raina, who has returned to India.
BHAJJI’S ARRIVAL
DELAYED
Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who was expected to join the CSK camp on Tuesday has delayed his arrival. While speculation is rife that Harbhajan is in a dilemma over going to Dubai, Viswanathan said the bowler hadn’t said no yet.
“He said he would let us know (arrival date) by tomorrow. We are expecting him by the end of this week,” he said.
I WILL BE IN ACTION SOON: CHAHAR
Deepak Chahar, who is in quarantine after testing positive, said on Tuesday that he was recovering. “Hopefully, I will be back in action soon. I am better now and trying my best to keep myself fit. Thanks for your wishes,” said Chahar in a video.
New Delhi, Sept. 1: India skipper Virat Kohli has said he did not miss cricket as much as he expected during the months-long break caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kohli, who also captains Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore, recently started training in the United Arab Emirates for the virus-delayed start of the glitzy Twenty20 tournament on September 19.
“When I had our practice session yesterday (Monday), it is (when) I realised how long it has been,” Kohli said during an interview posted on RCB’s YouTube channel on Tuesday.
“When I was heading towards the practice session, I felt nervous, bit jittery, but I was OK. Honestly, I didn’t miss the game as much as I
thought I might. Maybe because I’d been going on for nine, 10 years before that and this was the only break I was ever going to get (which was) that long,” he said.
Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma recently announced they were expecting their first child in January.
“The best thing was Anushka and myself were at home. We never got so much to spend together since we started seeing each other (in 2013),” Kohli said.
“Just being in your own home with the one you love, you couldn’t ask for anything better. We just made the most of the whole time,” Kohli said.
Kohli, one of the top batsmen in the world in all formats of the game, will remain in a bio-bubble with his Bangalore teammates throughout the 53-day tournament.
The competition is expected to be played behind closed doors, and Kohli said it will be an unusual setting.
“It is going to be strange, it is going to be new. Just the echo of (the) ball hitting the bat, I haven’t experienced that since Ranji Trophy cricket back in 2010,” he said. —