Last Updated on 5 months by Charbel Coorey
Krunal Pandya tests positive for Covid-19, 2nd T20I postponed | SL vs IND 2nd T20I postponed after Krunal Pandya tests positive to COVID-19
The 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka, originally scheduled to take place on the 27th July, is now postponed to 28th on account of Indian player Krunal Pandya testing positive for Covid-19. The all-rounder tested positive for the virus in a rapid antigen test conducted by the medical team on Tuesday morning.
India was leading the T20I series after winning the 1st game at Colombo on Sunday. 30-year old Krunal played a key role in India’s defense of 164 by picking the 1st wicket to put the breaks on the Lankan team. The rest of the spinners and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/22) ensured the hosts were bowled out for 126.
It is uncertain on where he could have caught the infection but it was understood that Krunal complained of a sore throat on Tuesday morning. This prompted the Indian medical team to ask the all-rounder to take Rapid Antigen Test, followed by universally recognized RT-PCR Tests. Both turned out positive.
Eight other members of the Indian team have been identified as close contacts to Krunal Pandya. They all are in isolation since then and the entire contingent of touring Indian team will undergo RT-PCR tests on Tuesday.
BCCI in their media release confirmed this news. It stated “The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India originally scheduled to be played on July 27 has been pushed forward by a day and will now take place on Wednesday, July 28,”
“Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Team India all-rounder Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts,” the release added.
“The entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad.”
However, the good news is that no Sri Lankan team member has tested positive and they are scheduled to undergo RT-PCR tests on Wednesday.
With this news of postponement, the 2nd and 3rd T20I of India vs Sri Lanka series will happen on back-to-back days, i.e., on 28th and 29th July. This also means the Indian will have to stay in Sri Lanka a little longer than their stipulated schedule. They were supposed to leave on Thursday.
We also have wait and watch if this has any impact on Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav’s departure to England. The duo was supposed to leave for UK after the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka to join the Indian Test team as injury replacements.
