One more Team India support staff has tested COVID-19 positive one day ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, starting on September 10 at Manchester in Old Trafford. Previously, head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, and fielding coach R Sridhar had contracted the virus.
As per reports in the ESPNCricinfo, the Indian squad members have been asked to stay back in their hotel rooms till further notice. The new case emerged after a fresh round of RT PCR tests that took place on Wednesday evening.
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Snapshots from #TeamIndia's training session at the Old Trafford Cricket Stadium ahead of the 5th and final Test.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/1W0PerjcTy
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021
Meanwhile, the entire Indian squad had trained on Wednesday morning. They underwent another set of RT PCR tests, the results of which are yet to come.
Previously, during the fourth Test, Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar had tested positive for Covid-19. That has prevented them from traveling to Manchester with the rest of the contingent. Team India physio Nitin Patel, Arun, and Sridhar were identified as Shastri’s close contacts by BCCI’s medical team and were asked to isolate themselves. While the other three returned positive, Patel tested negative and joined the squad.
India keen to retain the Pataudi Trophy
Virat Kohli, who are currently leading the five-match series 2-1, will be keen to maintain the lead and win the series in Manchester. They are expected to make one change to their playing XI with Mohammed Shami all set to come back.
Hello, Old Trafford 👋. Our final stop 📌#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/PUIyxFOPpV
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021
Mohammed Siraj, who looked off-colours at the Oval is likely to sit out, or Jasprit Bumrah can be rested with a jam-packed schedule to follow in the next couple of months.
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