IPL 2021: MS Dhoni-led CSK to shift their training camp to Mumbai on March 26

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be eager to make amends in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after their disastrous outing last year in the United Arab Emirates across three venues namely Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. CSK had failed to produce results in the testing conditions of UAE and thus finished at the seventh position in the points table after winning just six games out of 14 played.

In addition, it was the first time in the history of the league that the side had failed to qualify for the second stage of the elite tournament. Desperate to bounce back stronger in IPL 2021, the three-time champion has decided to shift their training camp from Chennai to the financial capital of India, Mumbai where they are scheduled to play their opening game.

MS Dhoni, along with some other Chennai players, had started training for the upcoming league in Chennai from around March 10. However, according to the schedule released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), no team will play in their home ground as in the view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the tournament will be conducted across just six venues namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

The Super Kings campaign in the T20 Championship will commence with a match against Delhi Capitals on April 10, Sunday in Mumbai. In addition, the team is scheduled to play as many as five-matches in Mumbai. This will be followed by them heading to Delhi for their next four league games. Their next three games will take place in Bangalore before two games in Kolkata will bring an end to their league campaign on May 23. 

CSK CEO opens up about team’s further planning

Thus, to get accustomed to the playing conditions in Mumbai, the Chennai contingent will travel to the financial capital on March 26. The same was confirmed by CEO Kasi Viswanath as he also added that the team would stay at the Trident hotel in Mumbai. “We will definitely shift now. We are scheduled to leave for Mumbai by March 26,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanath told Inside Sport.

It is also learned that the batting mainstay Suresh Raina will be joining the three-time champion in Mumbai directly on March 26. But he will be expected to undergo a week-long quarantine before joining the training.