Under such unprecedented circumstances, there are plenty of protocols and safety measures that are being taken by all the IPL franchises, and DC also ensured their squad and support staff members reached Mumbai on Thursday in batches before leaving for the UAE to take part in the Indian Premier League.
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Ajinkya Rahane, who is a part of DC for the first time, was among the players who reached the team hotel in Mumbai, and expressed his thoughts on the challenges that all the players and franchises will face this season due to the on-going pandemic.
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The 32-year-old said, "There is no doubt that it will be a challenging trip for everyone involved. But like everyone else, I've spent these last few months focusing on my physical and mental health, and taking care of my family. So the time I've managed to spend with them has put me in a positive frame of mind. However, this IPL will be a very different experience for all of us, and we need to make sure that we are all very positive when we hit the ground running. The key is to take one step at a time."
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Fellow Mumbaikar and young opening batsman Prithvi Shaw echoed his teammate's opinion.
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The 20-year-old said, "We have spent the past 4-5 months dealing with this pandemic, so everyone is aware of all the do's and don'ts. We all have been preparing mentally to live and play under such circumstances, and taking all necessary precautions for our safety and well-being."
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Speaking on how his team will be approaching the upcoming season, Shaw said, "All of us at Delhi Capitals play together as a team, and approach everything as one unit. We know people have a lot of expectations from us, but our focus will be on making the most of the training sessions we get in the UAE, and re-creating that fantastic team environment which made us so successful last year. We also have the chance to gel with the new players and then set our sights on the IPL season."
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Afternoon matches of IPL 2020 will begin at 3:30 IST, while evening matches will begin at 7:30 IST. The tournament will be played from September 19 to November 10.
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DC's assistant coach Mohammad Kaif
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Shikhar Dhawan sought his parents' blessings before departure.
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Dhawan pictured inside the flight.
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Rishabh Pant and Vijay Dahiya.
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