IPL 2020: Ruturaj Gaekwad becomes 2nd CSK player after Deepak Chahar to test positive for coronavirus

Ruturaj Gaekwad has become the second Chennai Super Kings player after Deepak Chahar to test positive for the novel coronavirus in Dubai, weeks ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Earlier, Chahar was among at least ten members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday in Dubai. It also has to be noted that CSK was the only team of the eight franchises that held a camp in India before departing to UAE.

Those who have tested positive will self-isolate for 14 days outside the bio-bubble. The IPL quarantine protocol for Covid positive individuals says: “This will follow the Government policy and is currently 14 days. During the 14-day quarantine, the individual will be tested on Day 10, Day 13 and Day 14.”

Following the positive cases, contact tracing will be done as per the health guidelines. “Contact tracing must commence at the earliest. All casual contacts will undergo an RT-PCR test immediately while close contacts will be closely monitored and tested over the next 5 days,” says the IPL health advisory.

A while ago, Chennai Super Kings confirmed that their vice-captain Suresh Raina will miss the entire IPL 2020 after opting to return home due to “personal reasons”.

CSK were supposed to begin their training on Friday but now have been forced to return to quarantine. The schedule for IPL 2020 will be announced in due course. It is highly likely that CSK will play the opening fixture against defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 19.