Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji was the latest to be hit by the COVID-19 virus as he tested positive on Monday (May 3). A member of the Chennai Super Kings service staff has also tested positive.
The COVID-19 virus has encroached the Chennai Super Kings bio-secure bubble as bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji, and a member of the team service staff have tested positive for coronavirus. It only adds to the growing list of the COVID-19 infected list of this IPL 2021.
With Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier testing positive, it has already forced the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore to be rescheduled. Now, with a couple of CSK members testing positive as well, it has only worsened the ongoing condition.
It is uncertain how Balaji and the member of the CSK service staff contracted the virus inside the team’s bio-bubble. However, according to Cricbuzz, the duo has tested positive in their latest RT-PCR tests, which was conducted on May 3. Meanwhile, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, who was reported to be positive, has returned a negative report on Rapid Antigen Test and the RT-PCR test as well.
Now, according to SOPs of the IPL, Balaji and the member of the service staff will now have to isolate themselves outside the team bio-bubble for a period of 10 days. They will be allowed to rejoin the bubble after they return two negative results on the RT-PCR tests.
The problem that may arise is that Balaji was seen in the CSK team dugout during their last game, which was against Mumbai Indians on May 1. The three-time champions next face Rajasthan Royals on May 5 , and it will be interesting to see whether the game will go on as per schedule.
Last year, CSK were affected by COVID-19 cases as well. Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad tested positive in Dubai, but that was well before the tournament even began.
