After Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham test positive for COVID-19

Days after Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19, the Indian spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham has also returned positive for COVID-19. The spinners were identified as close contacts to Krunal Pandya and were forced into isolation that saw them miss the final two T20Is against Sri Lanka.

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A total of eight close contacts were identified and isolated from the squad. The other six members were Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey and Deepak Chahar. The news of Chahal and Gowtham testing positive for COVID-19 was confirmed by ESPNCricinfo.

Meanwhile, the COVID scare meant that India were left with little resources in the final two T20Is against Sri Lanka. They had to take the field with just five specialist batsmen. The bleak batting could not resist Sri Lanka’s attack and lost both the T20Is and the series.

Apart from the ones in isolation, other members of the squad have left for India. As per the Covid-19 protocols in Sri Lanka, anyone testing positive for COVID-19 will have to isolate himself for 10 days post which he or she will undergo several COVID-19 tests. Upon returning negative results, they will be allowed to leave the country. Meanwhile, the close contacts of the positive person will have to isolate for seven days and return negative COVID-19 before leaving the shores.

The current protocols has put Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav’s travel plans to England in jeopardy. The players now won’t be able to board the flight to the UK before August 7, ensuring that they won’t be able to join the Indian squad before the third Test.