In a huge blow to Rajasthan Royals ahead of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), their fielding coach Dishant Yagnik has been tested positive for COVID-19. The inaugural winners of the IPL announced the news on their official website on Wednesday (August 12). The news comes only days ahead of teams’ departure for UAE for the 13th edition of the tournament.
Rajasthan Royals confirmed that Yagnik’s test was held in his hometown – Udaipur – and that he was not in close proximity with any of their or other IPL players in the past 10 days. All the other members of the Rajasthan Royals have tested negative. The coach has consequently been advised to get hospitalised for a 14-day quarantine.
After two weeks, he will have to undergo two mandatory tests as per the protocols of BCCI. Upon two consecutively negative reports, he can join the team camp after self-isolating for six more days and submitting three further negative tests upon arrival in the UAE. Rajasthan Royals had undertaken the three COVID-19 tests ahead of the team’s assembly and departure from Mumbai next week.
“Rajasthan Royals would like to like to inform that their fielding coach Dishant Yagnik has tested positive for COVID-19. The test was undertaken keeping in mind that the team members need to assemble in Mumbai next week for their flight to the UAE. The franchise implemented an extra test for all players, support staff and management travelling to the UAE in addition to the two tests recommended by BCCI, to ensure as robust a process as possible,” the franchise stated in a release.
The thirteenth edition of the tournament is scheduled to start on September 19 while the final will take place on November 10. Once the teams enter their bio-secure bubbles, none of their members will be allowed to move outside before the tournament is completed.