COVID scare in IPL 2021: SRH’s T Natarajan tests positive but DC vs SRH match tonight to go ahead – The second phase of IPL 2021 has also been hit by COVID outbreak in the UAE. Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been isolated along with six close contacts including Vijay Shankar. However, the match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will go ahead, BCCI confirmed. Follow LIve Updates on InsideSport.co
@18:30 PM: No cap on the crowd at Dubai International Stadium.
@18:28: The match is on. Both sides have begun warm-up.
COVID scare in IPL 2021: “Sunrisers Hyderabad player T Natarajan tested positive for COVID-19 at a scheduled RT-PCR test. The player has isolated himself from the rest of the squad. He is currently asymptomatic. The medical team has identified the below mentioned six close contacts of the player, who have also been placed in isolation,” BCCI said in a statement.
While some foreign players expressed their concerns about taking the field, a senior BCCI official told InsideSport that the match would go ahead with crowd presence as usual despite T Natarajan testing positive.
“The situation isn’t similar to that of England. Everyone is vaccinated and has been on a tight bio-bubble. So, there is nothing to worry about. Even Natarajan is fully vaccinated. He will remain in isolation for 10 days. The match goes on without any concern,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.
However, the situation is very unfortunate for T Natarajan. The Tamil Nadu pacer missed the IPL Phase 1 due to injury and missed the bus to England due to the injury apart from the home Test series against England. With him testing positive, T Natarajan is likely to be out of the tournament. As he will need to spend 10 days in isolation, he can only come out on October 2 meaning he will be available only for two games this season. It also creates a problem for SRH’s whose bowling attack will be depleted.
COVID scare in IPL 2021: “The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5AM local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai,” BCCI added.
COVID scare in IPL 2021: Players & staff in isolation:
1. Vijay Shankar – Player
2. Vijay Kumar – Team Manager
3. Shyam Sundar J – Physiotherapist
4. Anjana Vannan – Doctor
5. Tushar Khedkar – Logistics Manager
6. Periyasamy Ganesan – Net Bowler
