India’s wicketkeeping star has tested positive and is currently in home-quarantine at a relative’s home, after Indian players were allowed to leave the bio-bubble in England for a few days, where Rishabh also attended a Euro 2020 game.
Barely a week after the Corona Virus swept through the England camp ahead of their limited-overs home series against Pakistan, Team India has been jolted by the news that Rishabh Pant has contracted the virus. Last week before the first ODI against Pakistan, it was confirmed that seven members of the English team tested positive for Covid-19, forcing the side to field a second-string team, while all members of the previous side were quarantined and tested.
The Indian squad that played lost the World Test Championship Final on June 23rd were allowed to leave the bio-bubble for a couple of weeks to spend time with family and friends and many used that time to take in all the sporting action from Wimbledon and the Euro 2020, including Rishabh Pant who was spotted at Wembley for the match between England & Germany.
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As per our sources, the mandate given to players and support staff was to return to the Bio-Bubble by today or tomorrow, with the first Test of the five-Test Series versus England starting on the 4th of August. Pant took his first dose of the Covid vaccine on May 13 and is said to have a scratchy throat but is otherwise asymptomatic, as he recovers ahead of the highly anticipated series.
The series against England marks the start of the new cycle of the World Test Championship for India and the team are set to play a practice match against Durham from the 20th of July, which will now most likely be without their star keeper-batsman.
[Image Credit: ANI]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports