There IPL 2021 clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders game has been rescheduled after KKR players entered into isolation following reports of COVID-19.
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The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc in India during the second wave. There have been over 350,000 cases almost every day for the past one week. Recently, there were over 400,000 cases in a day as India continued to suffer. The IPL 2021, though, was being held in a bio-secure environment with no fans. This had kept the virus at bay. However, this perception might soon be shattered as there has been major developments.
According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier are the two players who have tested positive for COVID-19. The rest of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad is negative. The Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Anil Patel told the Sportstar that he received a message from the BCCI CEO and the venue in charge that today’s match is suspended and a new date will be announced later in the day.
Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said there has been no suggestion of charter flights to bring the Australian players home. However, the suggestion of special flights to bring the players back in has angered many Australians. There is a travel ban from India to Australia till May 15. Anyone found violating that can face a jail term of five years or a fine of AUD 66,000. The BCCI has not yet released a statement.
There has been immense criticism from several sections of society that the IPL is happening at the wrong time in the country. Every day, there are more than 350,000 cases in the country and the medical system is on the brink of collapse in the country. The IPL was held in six venues which are Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi and Ahmedabad. All these cities are also COVID-19 hotspots.
The rescheduling of the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game will now involve a tremendous amount of logistical and scheduling hassles. Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are the other sides in the Ahmedabad bio-bubble. Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are the teams who are in the Delhi bio-bubble.
Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous game in Chennai thanks to fifties from AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell.
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