India batsman Shreyas Iyer on Saturday (August 14) landed in Dubai to train and be geared up for the second phase IPL 2021, slated to be held in UAE from September 19 to October 15.
Iyer, who led Delhi Capitals (DC) to the final in the 2020 edition, is returning to action after nearly five months of intense rehabilitation.
He had to undergo a surgery after sustaining a horrific shoulder injury during the third ODI against England in Pune earlier this year.
“Yes, Shreyas has already reached Dubai and will start training after completion of all the quarantine protocols,” a senior official close to DC told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“The Delhi Capitals team is arriving by the end of this month but Shreyas wants to start training and be on level terms by the time he touches base with the squad.”
Accompanying Iyer in Dubai is his childhood coach and also Delhi Capitals’ batting coach Praveen Amre.
“Praveen has travelled with Shreyas to help him during the first week when the team and the net bowlers aren’t available. Since BCCI SOP protocols don’t allow any outside net bowler, it is expected that Shreyas will be helped with throwdowns by Praveen,” the source said.
“In these COVID times, it is very difficult to get quality training time in India. Since the DC team would be doing hard quarantine in India for five to six days before travelling to UAE, it would have delayed his training time by at least 10 days.
“He can now make full use and integrate into the main squad and train the last three weeks before the tournament starts with DC,” the source added.
Iyer had led DC brilliantly in the 2019 and 2020 seasons but there is speculation that Rishabh Pant, who captained the side during the first phase earlier this year, might continue in his role.
A total of 31 matches will be played in the UAE-leg of IPL 2021, which got underway in April in India but was postponed on May 4 after the completion of 29 matches due to COVID-19 positive cases in bio-bubbles of multiple franchises.
With 6 wins from 8 games, Delhi Capitals were leading the points table when the league was suspended. They will start their second phase campaign with a clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on September 22.
(With PTI inputs)
