Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19 as Delhi Capitals suffered another jolt after their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer was injured in an India-England match after which Rishabh Pant was assigned captaincy.
Axar Patel is the second player participating in the tournament to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Axar Patel Became 2nd Player After Nitish Rana To Test Covid-19 Positive
With seven days to go for the high-octane Indian Premier League clash between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium, the Delhi-based franchise has suffered a huge blow as all-rounder Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking to ANI, sources in the DC camp confirmed the development. “Unfortunately, Axar has tested positive. He is isolating and all protocols are being followed,” the source said.
Axar Patel was 2nd player after Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana to test positive for the virus. Nitish Rana though tested negative for coronavirus on Thursday after returning a positive result on March 22. Having undergone self-isolation after the positive result, he underwent a COVID-19 test on Thursday and tested negative.
The BCCI SOP says a player who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate in the designated area outside the bio-secure environment for a minimum of 10 days from the first day of symptoms or the date of collection of the sample which resulted in a positive RT-PCR report, whichever is earlier.
“During the 10-day isolation, the individual must rest and avoid any exercises. The team doctor should regularly monitor the case. If symptoms worsen during the course of isolation, the individual must be hospitalized immediately,” the SOP states.
Things haven’t looked too bright in Mumbai with 8 ground staff at the Wankhede Stadium testing positive for coronavirus. With cases rising in the state of Maharashtra, IPL franchises have started feeling a little wary and are keeping fingers crossed with the 14th edition of the league set to get underway from April 9.
Delhi Capitals Is One Of The Four Teams To Set Up Their Base In Mumbai
Wankhede is set to host 10 IPL games this season from April 10-25. The first match at the Mumbai stadium is slated to be played on April 10 between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.
Four franchises — Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals — have set up their base in Mumbai as of now. Maharashtra reported 47,827 new COVID-19 cases and 202 deaths on Friday with Mumbai registering the highest-ever single day spike of 8,832 new cases. It was the second day in a row that Mumbai recorded more than 8,500 cases.
Axar Patel, who had missed the first Test which India lost by 227 runs due to an injury, took a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the second Test. The left-arm spinner Axar Patel spun a web and bagged two five-wicket hauls in the third Test, thus helping India register a 10-wicket win inside two days.
And with a five-for in the second innings of the fourth Test, the left-arm spinner took his series tally to 27 wickets. In his Test series against England, he picked 27 scalps to finish behind Ravichandran Ashwin (32) in the leading wicket-takers list.