Reports: Rishabh Pant’s dentist visit a probable source of COVID-19 infection ahead of England Tests

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 8 and since then, he has been isolating. The southpaw didn’t travel to Durham with the Indian team after contracting the virus. India’s other keeper, Wriddhiman Saha, is also staying in isolation after coming in close contact with a few infected team members.

Prior to the five-match Test series against England, India are set to play a warm-up match against Select County XI, starting July 20 in Chester-le-Street. In the meantime, reports suggest that Pant’s infection had probably come from a doctor’s visit on July 5 and 6.

“Pant had gone to a dentist on July 5 and 6 and could have picked the virus from the clinic. On July 7, he had been vaccinated,” a source was quoted as saying to The Times of India (TOI).

Rishabh Pant also going to watch Euro 2020 match

On June 29, Pant had gone to watch the match between England and Germany in Euro 2020 at the Wembley Stadium. The left-hander batter also posted pictures from his outing on his Instagram handle.

“Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on July 8. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive.

“He is being closely monitored by the BCCI medical team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, also a former Indian cricketer, had Pant’s back, saying that it’s “practically impossible” to wear masks every other time.

“We have seen Euro Championship and Wimbledon in England. Rules have changed (with the crowd being allowed inside venues). They were on leave and it’s physically impossible to wear masks all the time,” Ganguly said.

Pant has been a key member of the Indian team across formats, especially after his heroics in the Gabba Test against Australia back in January. Later, he also played reverse-scoops off Jofra Archer and James Anderson, and the audacity earned him loads of praises. He also went on to lead Delhi Capitals (DC) in the first leg of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL).