Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are going to set up a 20-day practice camp in Surat ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022). The camp will start on March 2 and the IPL's 15th edition will kick off on March 26.
Super Kings' star cricketers like skipper MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, and Ravindra Jadeja will join the practice camp. Suresh Raina is not part of the franchise this season after going unsold in the mega-auction.
The cricket secretary of Surat District Cricket Association (SDCA), Nainesh Desai said that CSK picked Surat for their practice camp as they have the same soil as Mumbai.
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“Top cricketing stars like MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, and other national and international stars will be part of the practice camp. The cricket franchise selected Surat as we have developed pitches using the same soil as it is in Mumbai,” Desai quoted as saying by TOI.
A total of 70 league matches will be played across four international standard venues in Mumbai and Pune. Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium will host 20 matches, Brabourne Stadium will have 15 matches and DY Patil Stadium will host 20 matches.
There will be a bio-secure bubble for the players and it will be hard for fans to get a glimpse of the cricketers. “The players and associated staff will be strictly following the bio-bubble rules and the same are applicable for the stadium administration. It is a matter of pride for the city that we got a practice camp for a team that has international cricketing stars,” said Hemant Contractor, president of SDCA.
“Due to the bio-bubble, no spectators will be allowed at the stadium and we expect that people of Surat will support us in maintaining the players infection free. Such events put the city in the country’s cricketing map and we hope to get national and international cricket events here,” he added.
Heavy security arrangement using private and police force has been made to ensure that the cricketers do not come in contact with any individual of the public.
The SDCA officials have not revealed the fees they will receive from CSK's practice camp. As per reports, the franchise will come with their medical team as well.
(With TOI Inputs)
