Indian players got jitters after assistant physiotherapist tested COVID positive: Dinesh Karthik

While fans worldwide were eagerly waiting for the fifth and final Test between India and England, the game was called off due to COVID-19 concerns. Team India’s assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday (September 9) and it created a ruckus in the visiting team camp. Although all the players returned with negative COVID-19 tests on the eve of the game, several Indian players were reportedly hesitant to play the game.

An official statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also indicated the same. “Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team,” read the statement. Speaking of the whole episode, Dinesh Karthik revealed Indian players got the jitters after Parmar was infected.

Notably, senior physio Nitin Patel had tested positive during the fourth Test in London alongside head coach Ravi Shastri and two other support staff members. Highlighting the same, Karthik explained how Parmar’s positive test created panic in the Indian camp.

Indian players have done a lot of work with the physio: Dinesh Karthik

“I spoke to a few of the guys (Indian players). More often than not, a lot of the players after the fourth Test. This is tiring. Almost all games have gone down the wire, they are tired and they have only one physio right now,” Karthik told Sky Sports.

“They had two, but before this one went down along with the chief coach, another couple of the coaches, so they had one physio, so they”ve done a lot of work with that man. And now he tests positive. Now, that is the problem. I think that’s when they got the jitters a little bit,” he further explained.

Notably, the fifth and final Test, which was due to take place at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, has been rescheduled definitely. With the upcoming cricket calendar jam-packed, this game isn’t likely to be played anytime soon. However, both boards are working to arrange the decisive game. As of now, the five-match series stands 2-1 in India’s favour. Meanwhile, several players of both camps will next be seen in the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 which is scheduled to get underway on September 19.