COVID-19 has hit the fixture of the IPL 2021 after Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) two players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier have been tested positive. After that, All the players and support staff have been going through hard quarantine at their team hotel in Ahmedabad. Notably, their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore has been postponed.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed that both the players have been isolated from the rest of the squad and the medical team are constantly monitoring them. It also said that daily tests are taking place for KKR players and support staff in Ahmedabad and the board’s Medical Team is also looking after the close and casual contacts of both the players during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned positives.
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As the match against RCB was cancelled, KKR will next play on Saturday, May 8 in Ahmedabad. However, a 5-day hard quarantine with strict protocols and daily Covid-19 tests are in place for KKR. After this, if everyone comes out negative then they might take the field on Saturday otherwise the call will be taken later about the game. Currently, KKR, RCB, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are playing in Ahmedabad.
However, no breach in bio-bubble protocols happened for Varun Chakravarthy as he had complained of abdomen pain and travelled to the designated medical facility with their team doctor for a check-up, following all the Covid-19 SOPs issued by the board as well. Even, the hospital staff who checked Varun, a ward boy and technician have no symptoms and that left everyone quite shocked as it made the situation difficult to understand how he got affected.
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“In case of planned hospital visits for scans and specialists’ consultations, ‘Green Corridors’ will be created to ensure minimal contact with outsiders so that players and other participants who are following strict Bubble protocols will be able to return safely to their Bio-Secure Environment,” the SOP reads. “If players or staff are required to visit hospitals for treatment/scans during their quarantine period, necessary exemptions will be sought from the local health authorities to allow for movement between the hotel and hospital.”
Delhi Capitals’ official website has also confirmed that they are also serving quarantine as they had played their last game against KKR. With the duration of isolation not yet known, they are uncertain as to when they will resume the practice sessions.
The statement on DC’s website read ,“As we had played our last game against KKR, we have been advised to go into quarantine and all of us are in isolation. We are all in our rooms. We don’t have any information if that practice session will go ahead.”
