Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham test positive for COVID-19

Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham, part of India’s contingent on Sri Lanka tour, have tested positive for COVID-19. They were two out of eight cricketers identified as close contacts of all-rounder Krunal Pandya who first tested positive earlier this week. Following the COVID positive case, the second T20I between India and Sri Lanka was pushed back by a day.

The three-match T20I series ended on July 29 and the rest of the Indian squad will leave for India. On the other hand, Krunal Pandya and the other close contacts will continue to be in the isolation in Sri Lanka itself. Krunal was shifted to the other hotel soon after he was tested positive while the other eight players were in the same hotel as rest of Indian squad but were separated from them.

The six other players who are in isolation at the moment are Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey and Deepak Chahar. ESPNCricinfo reported the news of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Gowtham tested positive and they are likely to be moved to an isolation facility now.

India had to play with only five specialist batsmen in the last two T20Is of the series due to all these developments. Sri Lanka managed to defeat the depleted team in both the matches and went on to win their first T20I series since 2019.

Isolation of 10 days mandatory for people testing positive

Meanwhile, according to the guidelines of Sri Lanka government, a person testing positive for the virus will have to isolate himself/herself for 10 days. Also, he/she will have to undergo fresh round of tests and then clear those before leaving the country. The close contacts, meanwhile, will be isolating for seven days and the subsequent tests are needed to be cleared.

These developments are certainly affecting Prithvi Shaw and Surya’s chances to travel to England. The duo was picked as injury replacements in the Indian Test squad ahead of the Test series against England starting on August 4.