IPL 2021: RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal tests positive for COVID-19

Ahead of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the fears of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) surrounding the coronavirus outbreak are threatening to take a ginormous form. In the latest development, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Devdutt Padikkal has been tested positive for COVID-19 with less than a week left for the tournament to start.

If reports are to be believed, the left-hander is set to miss out on RCB’s first two games of the league. The Challengers start their campaign in the opener against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday, April 9 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Padikkal was the leading run-scorer for RCB last season in the UAE after making his IPL debut.

Headaches for BCCI ahead of the IPL

The southpaw is currently serving his quarantine period. The rising number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and the restrictions imposed by the Maharashtra government have created troubles for the BCCI. The board is currently in a huddle, wondering if the backup plan needs to be implemented.

“Let’s wait and watch the next 48 hours. Until then, everybody needs to strictly respect the protocols, increase the testing and not break the bio-bubbles. If they follow the norms, things will definitely be fine,” sources, privy to the development, were quoted as saying to The Times of India (TOI).

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Nitish Rana and Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Axar Patel also fell prey to the ungodly virus. To add insult to injury, members of the ground-staff at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai testing positive haven’t helped the BCCI by any means. Amidst the hullabaloo, the BCCI was clear cut in saying that the tournament won’t be shifted to the UAE.

“Should a franchise bio-bubble or any staff working with the IPL test positive or show symptoms or come in contact with those who have been affected, information needs to be immediately relayed to the medical staff. That’s extremely important. Everybody is doing it but we all need to be extra careful given the situation,” the board sources mentioned.

“The board is putting Covid-compliance officers in place. They should’ve started two weeks ago. The tournament cannot be shifted to the UAE now,” the sources added.