Devdutt Padikkal, RCB Opener, Tests COVID Positive Ahead of IPL 2021

Devdutt Padikkal is the latest IPL player to have contracted the novel coronavirus.

Image: RCB/Twitter

Devdutt Padikkal is the latest IPL player to have contracted the novel coronavirus. The RCB player tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The RCB opener has been isolated from the rest of the squad and is in quarantine. 

Padikkal was one of the biggest stars of the season. He was in fine form at the top of the order for RCB and was one of the biggest factors of RCB making the playoffs. 

His absence will be a big blow for Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore. The squad is currently in Chennai practicing for the upcoming IPL season which starts on 9th April, 2021.

Padikkal is not the first player to have tested positive for Coronavirus. On Saturday, Delhi Capitals all-rounder Axar Patel also tested positive for Coronavirus.

Last month Nitish Rana of Kolkata Knight Riders was also detected to be corona positive. Rana's latest reports dated 1 April have come out negative. A BCCI SOP says that if a player tests positive then he has to isolate himself outside the bio-secure zones for a minimum of 10 days from the day the player was first found positive in the RT-PCR Test. "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 reads.

In a recent update, 10 groundsmen at Mumbai's Wankhade Stadium have been tested positive. These eight groundsmen will be replaced by ground staff at Sharad Pawar Academy and Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana. Also, 6 BCCI organisers have also tested positive for Covid 19.

All these cases are from teams based out of Mumbai.

However, MCA has ruled out shifting matches out of Mumbai amid the surge in cases but Hyderabad has been kept on standby if restrictions are announced in Mumbai by the state government. Indore is also a back up for other cities.