6 Days Ahead Of IPL, Team India Spinner Axar Patel Tests COVID Positive

Mumbai: Six days before the start of IPL-14, Team India spinner Axar Patel of Delhi Capitals tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

“He had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on March 28, 2021, with a negative report. His report from the second COVID test came positive. He is currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility,” Delhi Capitals informed in a statement.

Axar will have to follow BCCI’s COVID protocols and isolate himself outside the bio-secure bubble. He will be allowed to join his teammates only after he tests negative for coronavirus.

As per the SOP released by BCCI, the individual must rest and avoid any exercises During the 10-day isolation period. “The team doctor should regularly monitor the case. If symptoms worsen during the course of isolation, the individual must be hospitalised immediately.”

Delhi Capitals will open their campaign with a fixture against Chennai Super Kings on April 10 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where 10 groundstaff and six event managers recently tested positive for the virus.

The left-arm spinner, who was one of Team India’s stars in the recent Test series triumph over England, has been a regular member in Delhi’s playing XI, but will miss the first few matches this season.

He is the second player to have contracted the virus — after Nitish Rana of Kolkata Knight Riders – in the run-up to IPL-14. Rana, who tested positive on March 22, returned a negative test a day earlier.