Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal tests positive for COVID-19
Devdutt Padikkal
|| India Correspondent ||
Just before the start of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) received a huge blow as their opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal has been tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
As per the report in the Times of India, Padikkal is under quarantine now and is currently trying to be fit for the season opener against Mumbai Indians on April 9. The youngster has been in a prolific form in recent times. He was the leading run-getter for RCB last season with 473 runs from 15 matches.
In recent times, he has amassed over 700 runs in the Vijay Hazare trophy too and missing him could be huge for the team against mighty Mumbai. However, Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel too has been tested positive recently alongside ten ground staff at Wankhede Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is currently in trouble after all these COVID-19 scares and it is understood that Indore and Hyderabad are on standby for hosting the tournament opener as well.
"It's too late to move the matches from Mumbai now. The members of the organizing team have been in separate bubble. The players are in strict bubble. BCCI had Hyderabad as a back-up but it’s very difficult to move it in a week," the official said to the newspaper.
Apart from them, Kolkata Knight Riders' player Nitish Rana too was said to be COVID-19 positive but the franchise later clarified that the cricketer was found negative and the team came out with a statement soon as well.
"Nitish Rana had checked into the KKR team hotel in Mumbai, on March 21, 2021 with a negative COVID report which was done on March 19, 2021. As per IPL protocol, he was tested on March 22, during his quarantine and the report showed that he was positive," the report stated.
