Reports: R Ashwin tests positive for Covid-19
As per the latest development, veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and eventually missed his flight to the UK as his teammates moved forward for the England tour. The Indian team will be touring England to play the rescheduled Test match, followed by an ODI and T20I series.
Reports suggest that while the Indian team flew to the UK on June 16, Ashwin had to undergo the protocols and follow the quarantine period, thereby missing the flight. His quarantine period will end soon, and the senior pro is expected to join the squad before the match. India will be playing a practice match against Leicestershire, which, if reports are to be believed, Ashwin might miss.
“Ashwin hasn’t traveled with the squad to the U.K. as he has tested positive for COVID-19 before departure. But we are hopeful that he will recover well in time before the Test match starts on July 1. However, he might miss the practice game against Leicestershire,” a BCCI source was quoted by The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, the Indian squad has reached Leicestershire and has started training under the guidance of their batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Head coach Rahul Dravid, alongside team members Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer travelled late, after concluding the South Africa project, and reached London. They will be traveling to Leicestershire to join the rest of the squad.
Senior players will be back in action
Notably, India’s senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah were rested for the recently concluded five-match T20I series against the Proteas as they were scheduled to play England. While KL Rahul was given the captaincy charge in the absence of Rohit, his injury ruled him out of not just the home series, but also the UK tour, and Rishabh Pant stepped into the role as the series ended in a 2-2 draw with the final game being washed out.
India will face England for the one-off Test match, which gets underway on July 1, followed by the three T20Is on 7th, 9th, and 10th July. They will conclude their tour with the three ODIs scheduled to be played on the 12th, 14th and 17th of July.
