Axar Patel has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of IPL 2021, dealing a big blow to the Delhi Capitals side.
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In a big blow to Delhi Capitals before IPL 2021, left-arm spinner Axar Patel has tested positive for the coronavirus. Axar is the second individual after Nitish Rana of the Kolkata Knight Riders to test positive. According to a Delhi Capitals source who spoke with ANI, Axar is currently in isolation and the franchise is following the protocol. This means that Axar is all but certain to miss Delhi Capitals’ opening game against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede stadium on April 10.
According to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the BCCI, if a player tests positive, he must be isolated for 10 days in the designated area outside of the bio-secure bubble. The 10 days will begin from the start of the symptoms or while conducting an RT-PCR Tests, whichever is earliest. Rana had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 22 but on Thursday, he returned a negative report.
Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium will host 10 IPL games from April 10 to April 25. All the matches will be played behind closed doors. The situation in Maharashtra is worsening, with close to 50,000 cases being registered on one single day. There is also talk about a lockdown in Maharashtra, which is making the BCCI tense.
In view of the developments, the BCCI is having Hyderabad as a contingency venue in case Maharashtra cannot host the IPL games. With eight groundstaff at the Wankhede stadium testing positive, the BCCI is thinking about making testing stricter.
Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings have their base in Mumbai. On Thursday and Friday, Mumbai recorded over 8000 cases in a single day. The scenario could see the games being shifted out of the city.
Axar Patel has been in fine form for India in the recent Test series against England. In three Tests, he took 27 wickets at an average of 10.59. This included a haul of 11/70 in the Ahmedabad Pink Ball Test. In the previous IPL, he was one of the stars for Delhi Capitals. He had an economy rate of 6.82 while his strike-rate at No.7 was 137.
