Rohit Sharma Covid-19 – Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now doubtful for the upcoming rescheduled Test against England.
Rohit Sharma faces a race against time in order to be fit for the forthcoming match against England after testing positive for Covid-19. The batting superstar tested positive as per the result of a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on Saturday (June 25).
A release from BCCI stated that Rohit has been placed under isolation at the team hotel and in under the care of the board’s medical team. An RT-PCR test has been scheduled for Sunday to confirm and ascertain the severity of the infection.
Prior to being tested positive for Covid-19, Rohit was involved in the ongoing warm-up game against Leicestershire. He opened the innings for Team India in first innings and scored 25 runs before being sent back by Roman Walker.
Rohit, however, did not come out to bat in the second innings on Saturday. With less than a week remaining before the Test against England starts, Rohit’s participation in the game looks highly doubtful.
UPDATE – #TeamIndia Captain Mr Rohit Sharma has tested positive for COVID-19 following a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on Saturday. He is currently in isolation at the team hotel and is under the care of the BCCI Medical Team.
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 25, 2022
Rohit Sharma Covid-19: Skipper’s Absence could be a huge blow for Team India:
In case Rohit Sharma fails to recover in time for the upcoming Test, it will be a huge blow for Team India. The visitors are already without their other regular opener KL Rahul, who is down with a groin injury. Missing Rohit will mean that Shubman Gill will be the only designated opener in the team. If Rohit fails to recover for the game, Gill is likely to open the innings alongside Cheteshwar Pujara.
Prior to Rohit’s diagnosis, ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s arrival on the tour was delayed after he too tested positive before leaving India. There were also reports suggesting that Virat Kohli had tested positive too after arriving in the UK.
Recently, New Zealand have had to deal with a number of Covid-19 cases during their ongoing Test tour. Their skipper Kane Williamson had to miss the second Test after testing positive.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Test is the conclusion of the series from last year which was suspended after a Covid-19 outbreak in the India team. Rohit was one of India’s performer during the first four Tests last year.
In 4 Tests, he had smashed 368 runs at an average of 52.27 including a hundred at The Oval. India are leading the series 2-1 and are eyeing their first series win in England since 2007. A draw in the upcoming game would be enough for the visitors to clinch the series.