IPL 2020: Travel dates for most of the teams finalised; CSK eyeing short camp in India

The preparations for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have begun in full flow with the government officially granting permission to the BCCI. The final schedule is yet to be released but the travel dates of most of the franchises are finalised. All the sides are expected to be in the United Arab Emirates by August 22 or 23, almost a month before the tournament begins.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are expected to be the first teams to depart on August 20 while the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will leave on August 21. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and the Delhi Capitals are yet to finalise a date between August 21 and 22 and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also haven’t finalised their travel itinerary.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) might possibly be the last team fly out of India from Bengaluru in the last week of August, preferably on August 22 or 23. However, prior to that, their players will reach Bengaluru this week and stay in quarantine for a week in a five-star hotel. According to the reports in Cricinfo, all the players and the support staff have tested negative in the first round of COVID-19 testing.

As for the defending champions, a set of players and support staff are already in Mumbai to undergo quarantine period and tests. However, it is yet not confirmed if the skipper Rohit Sharma, coaching staff and Zaheer Khan are part of the isolating group.

CSK planning a short camp for Indian player

CSK were denied a permission to fly out to the UAE early and now the franchise is planning to have a short training camp for its players in Chennai. But they are awaiting a written permission from the Tamil Nadu government. The skipper MS Dhoni will also be the part of the 15 Indian players who will be in the camp expected to start on August 16.

“We want to have a camp in Chennai from August 16 till 20th. We have applied to the Tamil Nadu government for permission. Orally they have said yes, but we have still not got the written letter of approval. If the written approval comes we are planning for a camp for the Indian players alone,” the CSK Chief Executive Officer Kasi Viswanathan said.

He also confirmed that the players will undergo testing before travelling to Chennai and then will again be tested twice on August 17 and 18. If there is no camp, then the players will leave the city on August 21.