Shikhar Dhawan, Six Others Test Positive For Covid Ahead Of India’s Series Against West Indies
Ahmedabad: Days ahead of the start of the white ball series between India and West Indies, COVID-19 outbreak hit the Indian cricket team on Wednesday as four players — openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and net bowler Navdeep Saini — tested positive for the virus along with three support staff during their mandatory isolation period before the start of West Indies series.
The Indian team assembled in Ahmedabad on January 31 for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies and were going through a three-day isolation period post their break from the South Africa series.
The series starts in Ahmedabad on February 6 with India’s 1000th ODI match but it is now a foregone conclusion that the trio will be missing the series as they will have to undergo a week-long isolation and then return with two negative RT-PCR tests.
It is expected that M Shahrukh Khan, R Sai Kishore, Rishi Dhawan, who are stand byes for the series, will now get a look-in to be in the squad.
As far as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner is concerned, Venkatesh Iyer, a specialist opener in the T20 squad, could be tried out.
