IPL 2021: Lakshmipathy Balaji Baffled By How The CSK Contingent Tested Positive For COVID-19

Chennai Super Kings was one of the franchises to report COVID-19 positive cases midway IPL 2021, sending shockwaves throughout the cricketing fraternity. Their bowling and batting coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and Michael Hussey had tested positive for the deadly disease that was cutting through India during the tournament. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who has thankfully recovered from the virus, revealed they are still clueless about how the positive cases emerged as they maintained strict precautions throughout.

After four franchises reported a handful of COVID-19 positive cases, the BCCI had no choice but to postpone the tournament indefinitely. Kolkata Knight Riders was the first to do so as Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier contracted the disease, leading to the postponement of their fixture against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on the 3rd of May. The next day more infections emerged and the BCCI took a harsh call. It still remains uncertain when the competition will resume and where.

Lakshmipathy Balaji remarked that he was not only worried for himself but for Rajeev Kumar (CSK fielding coach), Robin Uthappa, Cheteshwar Pujara, Deepak Chahar, and Kasi Viswanathan – all of whom had been around him. The former Indian seamer had been afraid, thinking if these people tested positive for COVID-19 and began praying for their health.

“I was also more worried about the others in my team who I was milling around with before I tested positive. Rajeev Kumar (CSK fielding coach), Robin [Uthappa], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, Deepak [Chahar] along Kasi Sir were all around me. So my conscience was battling with the difficult question of what if any of these people tested positive, too? I was praying for their health,” Balaji said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

We had a very strict protocol within the bubble from the first week of March when CSK’s preparatory camp started: Lakshmipathy Balaji

Lakshmipathy Balaji revealed that he later came to know of Michael Hussey testing positive for COVID-19 and did not understand how they contracted the virus. The 39-year old insisted they followed a strict protocol from the first week of March itself and recalled the 2020 edition when a few members of the CSK contingent tested positive. He said that all the members started being extra safe from that point.

“Then I came to know that Michael Hussey (Super Kings’ assistant coach), too, had tested positive. Till the day we don’t know how or where we contracted the coronavirus. We had a very strict protocol within the bubble from the first week of March when CSK’s preparatory camp started. After the experience in 2020 IPL when members of the CSK contingent tested positive, the franchise took maximum precautions even when we travelled from Chennai and Mumbai where we were based for the first leg of our IPL,” he added.

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