IPL 2021 Phase 2: Chennai Super Kings stars Robin Uthappa, Karn Sharma arrive in Chennai; join Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL’s UAE leg – The three-time IPL champions also welcomed veterans Robin Uthappa and Karn Sharma, who arrived in Chennai on Monday. The duo were joined in by youngsters Bhagath Verma and Harsihankar Reddy. The quartet will join Ruturaj Gaikwad, who set off for Chennai on Saturday.
Robin Uthappa was traded in from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2021 season, while Karn Sharma had already been a part of the squad since the mega auction in 2018. As for Bhagath Verma and Hari Shankar Reddy, they were added to the squad during the IPL 2021 auction. None of the aforementioned players featured in a single game during Phase 1, but with completion for places growing, they will hope to get some opportunities when Phase 2 kicks off on September 19.
Some 💛 four your evening!#HomeSweetDen #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁 @robbieuthappa @sharmakarn03 pic.twitter.com/fdIXG0ezwu
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) August 9, 2021
Chennai Super Kings opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made his international debut in the India tour of Sri Lanka, is off to Chennai to join CSK ahead of the IPL 2021 phase 2 which is scheduled to take place in UAE. CSK opener had a stellar of a season last year and he is continuing it this season.
Ruturaj posted a photo story of himself on Instagram where he can be seen wearing a black printed T-shirt and a face mask with the BCCI log on it. He also wrote Chennai on his story. He can be seen seating on his seat in a plane to Chennai.
Earlier, CSK’s CEO Kasi Vishwanathan told InsideSport.co exclusively that the side will leave for UAE on 13th or 14th of August. He said,” The date of the departure has not been finalised yet but we are planning to send the team by 13th or 14th of August. CSK will be flying to Dubai and will start our training from there.
Ruturaj Gaikwad had a decent IPL 2021 where he scored 196 runs with the help of two fifties in seven games. In the 2020 edition, he rose to the limelight by playing some outstanding innings in the latter half of the season. The right-hander averages over 47 in the 59 List A matches that he has played and has a strike rate of more than 130 in the T20 format.
Also Read: IPL 2021 Phase 2: 5 players who could benefit from IPL’s return to the UAE
Gaikwad opened the batting with Shikhar Dhawan in India’s tour of Sri Lanka last month. He played two T20Is for India in which he could only score 35 runs at a strike rate of 125.00.
