IPL 2021: Axar Patel tests positive for COVID-19 according to ANI reports

Axar Patel

Already handicapped with an injury to their captain, Delhi Capitals have received another major blow to their campaign. Their star all-rounder Axar Patel has been tested positive for COVID-19 and has been isolated as per the BCCI regulations. Patel was serving his mandatory quarantine period before testing positive and will now be isolated for 10 days minimum.

This comes as a huge blow for Axar who enjoyed a memorable debut against England in the recently-concluded Test series. Replacing Ravindra Jadeja, the left-arm spinner took 27 wickets in three Tests. He also played in a solitary T20I of the five-match series against the same team before leaving the bubble ahead of the ODI series.

What does BCCI SOPs say?

According to the BCCI SOPs, a player must be kept in isolation in the designated area outside the bio-secure environment after being tested positive. The isolation period will be a minimum of 10 days from the first day of symptoms or from the date when the sample was collected. The team doctor will continuously keep an eye on the player who should also skip doing any exercises during this period.

“During the 10-day isolation, the individual must rest and avoid any exercises. The team doctor should regularly monitor the case. If symptoms worsen during the course of isolation, the individual must be hospitalised immediately,” the SOP states.

Delhi Capitals will be playing their first game of the IPL 2021 season on April 10 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer is already ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Rishabh Pant has been named the skipper of the team for this season.