KKR releases an official statement on Nitish Rana after reports stated cricketer tested positive for COVID-19

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has released an official statement on Nitish Rana getting tested positive for COVID-19. The franchise has confirmed that the cricketer was tested positive on March 22 after starting his quarantine period a day ago. He has now completed his isolation period according to the protocols set by the IPL officials and his report has come out negative now.

Earlier in the day, several reports suggested that the cricketer has been tested positive for the virus. Many reckoned the southpaw might miss the opening game of KKR due to the same. However, KKR’s official statement has cleared all the confusion now. He is also expected to join the team soon having tested negative now.

“Mr. Nitish Rana had checked into the KKR team hotel in Mumbai, on March 21, 2021 with a negative COVID report which was done on March 19, 2021. As per IPL protocol, he was tested on March 22, during his quarantine and the report showed that he was positive.

“He has had no symptoms and has been completely asymptomatic since. Again as per IPL protocol, he isolated himself and was tested again today. We are glad to report that he has tested negative. We expect him to start training with the team shortly and be fully fit well before the start of the season,” the statement read.

Nitish Rana in decent form ahead of IPL 2021

Nitish Rana was a part of both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well as the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the left-hander was in scintillating form and scored 398 runs in 7 innings at an average of 66.33. Rana also scored a hundred and a couple of fifties in the tournament.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rana scored 183 runs in 5 innings at a decent average of 36.60 and a whopping strike rate of 164.86. He also helped himself to a couple of fifties in the competition.

Rana is also an experienced campaigner in IPL cricket and has featured in 60 matches in the league. The left-hander has scored 1437 runs in the IPL and has scored his runs at an average of 28.18 and an impressive strike rate of 135.57.

Rana experienced his most fruitful IPL season last year. In the 14 innings that he played in the 2020 edition of the IPL that was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Rana scored 352 runs and scored his runs at a strike rate of 138.58.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play their first match of the 14th IPL edition on 11th April 2021.