Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya Also Breached COVID Protocol In Australia: Report

Melbourne: Even as five isolated Team India cricketers are under investigation for having breached COVID-19 protocol on Saturday, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that regular captain Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya also violated guidelines last month.

According to a report in smh.com.au, Kohli and Pandya went baby-shopping on December 7 without wearing masks. The matter wasn’t reported as it was a minor violation.

Though the coronavirus scene is under control in Australia, restrictions are still in place and cricketers have been advised to follow all guidelines.

Kohli returned home after the first Test to be with wife Anushka Sharma, who is due to deliver the couple’s first child later this month.

Pandya, who became a father in July while he was playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL in UAE, is not part of the Indian Test squad and flew back after the ODI and T20 International series in December.

Though none of the two cricket Boards took note of the Kohli-Pandya violation, Saturday’s case has been taken more seriously with Cricket Australia probing the incident and having reported it to the BCCI as well.

The BCCI is yet to issue a statement on the five players — vice-captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini and Prithvi Shaw — who reportedly went to dine in an indoor restaurant in Melbourne.

5 players in isolation to travel with team to Sydney

The Indian Express reported on Sunday that the full Indian contingent, including the five who are in precautionary isolation, will travel to Sydney for the third Test against Australia in the same chartered flight on Monday.

With the series tied at 1-1, the third Test will be played from January 7.