IPL 2021: CSK bowling coach L Balaji’s COVID-19 positive result puts Delhi games in jeopardy

KKR v RCB match on Monday has been postponed after two KKR players tests positive for COVID-19.

Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier of KKR tested COVID positive| BCCIChennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach L Balaji was one of the two CSK members to test positive for COVID-19, along with a bus cleaner. However, Balaji’s positive result has put BCCI in a fix about the upcoming matches in Delhi.

This comes after Monday's evening match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad was postponed due to Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier testing positive for COVID-19.

The entire KKR team has gone for a six-day hard quarantine, starting Sunday, and Balaji who is a regular feature in the Chennai Super Kings dug-out has gone into isolation after returning with two RT-PCR positives on Monday.

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"Balaji's positive report is certainly a cause of concern although the CSK players have tested negative. But normally, a lot of people start showing symptoms from the fifth or sixth day. There are discussions whether it is safe to go ahead with the next two matches in Delhi," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"Balaji was in the dug-out and also before and after the match, he interacted with Mumbai Indians players which is natural. Now you can test every day but just like KKR's match has been postponed, it's prudent if MI's match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday and CSK's game against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday is rescheduled," the influential official said.

Many believe that the CSK team should go the KKR route and go into quarantine and test themselves to be sure before playing their next match.

However, the rescheduling might be a bit of a headache as the Delhi leg concludes on May 8 after which the ''Cluster Caravan'' is supposed to move to Bengaluru and Kolkata.

(PTI inputs)

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 03 May, 2021

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