The Mumba all-rounder, Shivam Dube is the latest to enter into the list of COVID-19 positive players and he will be missing at least the first couple of matches. Along with Dube, the video analyst of the Mumbai side has also been tested positive for Covid-19. The new variant Omnicron has already started spreading around the country at a brisk pace and this is definitely not a piece of good news for cricket fans.

The players have been tested on a consistent basis and the bio bubble fatigue has been one of the major problems in the past. Already, the India and South Africa Tests are being played under closed doors owing to the increase in the new COVID-19 cases.

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The Ranji Trophy action starts for Mumbai on the 13th of January and they will be traveling to Kolkata on Monday without Shivam Dube. The southpaw all-rounder has played one ODI, eight T20Is for the Indian team until last year.

Salil Ankola is the chief selector of the Mumbai team and he named a 20 member squad for the first couple of matches against Maharashtra and Delhi. Sairaj Patil has been named as the replacement for the 28-year-old Dube. Patil recently made his Vijay Hazare debut in the 2021 season and this will be his first call-up to Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad.

Elaborating the same, one of the quotes on News18 said, “Yes, the two have tested positive for Covid-19 and Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube’s replacement.”

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Shivam Dube on the other hand is an experienced cog in Mumbai’s squad and he can make a big difference to the side with his power hitting. He did play a few games of IPL 2021 for the Rajasthan Royals but couldn’t get his long levers going. He will be listed in the mega auction 2022 and it won’t be a surprise if he is one of the demanded players.