The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League starts within two weeks’ time and defending champions Chennai Super Kings have no official date on the return of their star players Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan while speaking to PTI late on Sunday, 13 March evening revealed that CSK were not aware of the current fitness status of the two players and they have no idea as to when the duo will join the squad.
The four-time IPL winners are currently training in Surat ahead of the season and are heavily dependent on the two players. While Gaikwad has been their best batsman last season, piling on 635 runs and forming an important partnership at the top alongside former yellow Faf du Plessis, Chahar on the other hand would have been extremely important with his all round ability with bat and ball.
Vishwanathan further revealed that both players are in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, nursing their injuries and BCCI would intimate the franchise once they are match-fit.
Both players suffered their respective injuries in the white-ball series against West Indies. Ruturaj concurred a wrist injury which was not deemed to be dangerous, but Chahar tore his quad muscles which initially sidelined him for six to eight weeks.
It was later reported that the swing bowler chose to not get surgery done and aims to return mid-April to play in the IPL.