Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) landed in a difficult state when they were told they had to serve an additional quarantine period of 7 days as per rules prevalent in Abu Dhabi. All the teams have completed their required isolation period and are stepping up on the field for their outdoor training sessions. Ending MI and KKR’s disappointment, recent reported state that both the teams have been cleared to train outdoors in Abu Dhabi itself.

After the revision of protocol, Mumbai and Kolkata can start training in Abu Dhabi like their counterparts in Sharjah and Dubai respectively. Having said that, the 48-hour mandatory quarantine for inter-city travel to Abu Dhabi will still be valid. The official schedule of  the IPL is yet to be out.

A few years back, Tom Banton and Shubman Gill were arch-rivals during the U19 World Cup in New Zealand, but now will be in the same colours donning KKR jersey in the upcoming IPL.

“Looking back, I remember the Indians were a lot better than all of us in the World Cup. I look up to those guys even now, and I am still good friends with some of them. Playing alongside Shubman at KKR will be pretty nice, and I am really looking forward to it,” Banton told kkr.in.

Learning from Andre Russell will be really cool: Tom Banton

“I am particularly excited to play alongside Andre Russell and Pat Cummins. I watched Andre last year, and he played really well. Learning from someone like him will be really cool,” he added.

In the light of the 13th season of Indian Premier League, all the teams have already completed their mandatory quarantine period and are gearing up to hit the field to acquire desired form and fitness. However, in the latest turn of events, CSK has decided to extend their quarantine period and will now start practising from September 1. The confirmed reasons behind the same are still not on the table.

The IPL officials are also thinking to conduct the fancy league in two phases in order to avoid inter-city travel across cities of UAE. The official statement surrounding the same is expected to be out in some days.