Ranji Trophy 2021-22: Shivam Dube tests positive for COVID-19, Sairaj Patil named as replacement
The fresh season of the Ranji Trophy will commence from January 13.
Shivam Dube is the latest to enter into the list of COVID-19 positive candidates and the Mumbai all-rounder will now miss at least the first two games. Along with Dube, the video analyst of the Mumbai side has also been tested positive for Covid-19. The new variant Omnicron has already started to spread around the world at a faster rate and this is definitely not a piece of good news for cricket fans.
The players have been tested on a consistent basis and the bio bubble fatigue has been one of the major problems in the past. Just when things started to get eased up, the world is now gone into preparations for the new variant. Already, the India and South Africa Tests are being played under closed doors owing to the increase in the new COVID-19 cases.
The Ranji Trophy action starts for Mumbai on the 13th of January and they will be traveling to Kolkata on Monday without the services of Shivam Dube. The left-hand batter has played one ODI, eight T20 internationals for India until last year.
Shivam Dube will be a big miss for Mumbai
Salil Ankola is the chief selector of the Mumbai side and he named a 20 member squad for the first two games against Maharashtra and Delhi. Sairaj Patil has been named as the replacement for the 28-year-old Dube. Patil recently made his Vijay Hazare debut in the 2021 season and this will be his first call-up to Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad.
“Yes, the two have tested positive for Covid-19 and Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube’s replacement,” a source was quoted as saying by News 18.
Dube on the other hand is an experienced cog in Mumbai’s set up and he can make a big difference to the side with his power hitting. He did play a few games of IPL 2021 for the Rajasthan Royals but couldn’t get his long levers going. He will be listed in the mega auction 2022 and it won’t be a surprise if he is one of the demanded players. Mumbai has been placed in Elite Group C and they have some big games coming up this month.
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