Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of the two players who had tested COVID-19 positive, has finished his two-week quarantine and is understood to be asymptomatic. However, the youngster will not be available for selection in CSK’s opening fixture against defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 19th.
After finishing his quarantine period, 23-year-old Gaikwad is yet to clear the two mandatory COVID-19 tests which will let him re-join the squad.
“We are waiting for BCCI to give us clearance on Gaikwad. He has to undergo the fitness tests [as well],” Kasi Viswanathan, Super Kings’ chief executive officer, told ESPNcricinfo.
Along with Gaikwad, pacer Deepak Chahar was the other player who had tested positive for COVID-19. He also underwent a similar process but recovered in time ahead of CSK’s opening fixture of the tournament.
Gaikwad had an impressive run in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he scored 419 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 146.30. His tally was only second to Devdutt Padikkal’s 580 runs in 12 innings. Gaikwad, who predominantly bats at No.3 position for India A, is touted to fill the void left by Suresh Raina.
