Two players from Virat Kohli’s team India side in England have tested positive for COVID-19, which is awful news for Indian cricket fans. The players in question have been separated from the rest of the team.
Thankfully, both are doing well now. While one has now returned negative tests, the other will be checked on July 18 as he nears the end of his tenth day in isolation. Sources close to the situation told ANI that both players were asymptomatic and only showed slight signs of cough and cold when they were tested for COVID-19.
Teammates and support personnel who had contact with the positive players were also ordered to remain in isolation for the next three days.
The news comes only days after a handful of England players tested positive for the virus ahead of the ODI series against Pakistan. The ECB was compelled to isolate the entire England team, including captain Eoin Morgan and Joe Root. The ODI series was won by a second-string team led by Ben Stokes, who swept Pakistan 3-0.
Prior to India’s ODI series against Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower and SLC team members tested positive for COVID-19. After a limited-overs series against England, they were ready to play again. As a result, the first game of the series was put back 5 days to July 18.
The Indian team has been told to regroup in Durham by the end of today. They’ll all be tested again on Thursday, after being tested by the ECB over the weekend.
India will play a three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI in Chester-le-Street, Durham, on July 20. This summer, India will conduct its preparations at the Riverside Ground.
After the WTC Final, Indian players were allowed to leave the bio-bubble for a 20-day break. They’ll re-enter the bubble on July 20 for the practise matches. The Test series between India and England, for example, begins on August 4.
