Devdutt Padikkal, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) left-hand batsman, has tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting April 9.
According to Times of India, Padikkal is currently undergoing self-isolation after contracting the virus.
Padikkal is the third IPL cricketer to test COVID-19 positive ahead of the league’s forthcoming edition. On Saturday, the news of spin all-rounder Axar Patel testing positive for corona was confirmed by Delhi Capitals. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) informed that their batsman Nitish Rana had tested positive on March 22 but returned negative upon retesting on April 1.
According to BCCI’s Standard Operating Procedures, 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.
It means Padikkal, one of RCB’s bright spots in the last season, is now in a race against time to be fit for the opening day fixture against defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in Chennai.
Playing his maiden IPL season in UAE last year, Padikkal had made 473 runs from his 15 innings at an average of 31.53 and 124.80. The 20-year-old’s tournament tally included five half-centuries.
Things aren’t looking as bright in Mumbai when it comes to the IPL, with 10 ground staff members at the Wankhede Stadium also testing positive for coronavirus.
The latest wave of the pandemic has seen a rise in Maharashtra’s corona positive cases, which has become a cause of concern for IPL teams and the BCCI before the IPL 2021 begins.
The board, however, remains confident of safely hosting the 10 IPL matches scheduled in Mumbai this season from April 10-25.
As many as four IPL franchises – Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) – have set up their base in Mumbai.
Till Friday (April 2), Maharashtra reportedly observed 47,827 new COVID-19 cases and 202 deaths amid the latest wave of the pandemic.
The dangerous outbreak of coronavirus had led to the postponement of last year’s IPL from its traditional window in April-May to September-November.
