Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Shardul Thakur are all set to miss the star-studded Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) six-day conditioning camp in Chennai in the lead up to the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2-2- in the UAE.
The trio will miss the training camp due to personal commitments, although Harbhajan and Thakur will join the behind closed doors CSK camp in Chennai on August 19, while Jadeja will miss the entire camp.
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The main aim of conducting the conditioning camp – which is scheduled to be held between August 15 and 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, is to get the cricketers back to fitness with some training sessions ahead of the upcoming season following the Coronavirus-forced break since mid-March.
As per ESPNcricinfo, the CSK Chief Executive Officer Kasi Viswanathan said of Jadeja’s absence: “He has personal commitments”. However, the star all-rounder will reach Chennai in time to board the flight to Dubai on August 21 ahead of the IPL 2020 starting on September 19.
Meanwhile, the source revealed: “Harbhajan and Thakur had a few personal commitments and we understand that. However, they have already started training on their own. So we aren't worried about them missing our camp. They are expected to join the squad by August 19.”
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However, the rest of the CSK stars like skipper MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, and Kedar Jadhav have already entered the bio-bubble after having reached Chennai camp. It is being said that the players will not be allowed to use gyms or swimming pool during their stay at the hotel as part of precautionary measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Viswanathan also revealed that CSK head coach Stephen Fleming and assistant coach Michael Hussey are likely to join the squad in Dubai by August 22, while South African backroom pair of Eric Simons (bowling consultant) and Greg King (physical trainer) would join them on August 21.
He further added South African stars Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi are expected to join the squad after September 1 in the UAE, while third Proteas star Imran Tahir will join the CSK squad in the UAE after playing his part in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League which will end on September 10.
Viswanathan signed off by saying, “When we spoke to Faf and Ngidi they said yes, we are coming. They have said that they will only be coming after September 1.”
(With ESPNCricinfo/TNN Inputs)
