After 10 groundsmen tested positive at Wankhede Stadium, this is the third case of a cricketer getting tested positive for the coronavirus.
Royal Challengers Bangalore opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal has tested positive for COVID-19 in the third case for a cricketer ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to a report in The Times of India, the left-hander is undergoing quarantine.
This could disrupt the plans for the Virat Kohli-led side as Padikkal was going to start for the RCB as the regular opener alongside Kohli himself. As per BCCI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Padikkal will have to remain in isolation for a period of at least 10 days and can join the team after two negative tests on the 9th and 10th days of his isolation period.
On Saturday, Delhi Capitals' all-rounder Axar Patel also tested positive for the coronavirus. While most of the cases until now were emerging from Mumbai where the surge has been rapid in COVID-19 cases, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are in Chennai where they will play the tournament opener against the defending champions Mumbai Indians.
Padikkal, who made his debut last year in the IPL has been in sensational form as he was the second-highest run-getter in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 737 runs at a whopping average of 147.4 in just seven games.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana had tested positive for COVID-19, but returned a negative test a few days ago and trained for the first time with the team on Saturday.
The BCCI, however, still remains confident of hosting all the 10 games at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from April 10 to April 25 despite a sudden rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city as according to them shifting of the venue at the last minute may not be feasible for them.
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 "Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal RCB")
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