IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians’ players and staff test negative for COVID-19

Ahead of the 14th edition of the T20 extravaganza, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) were dealt with a massive blow as their talent scout and wicketkeeping consultant Kiran More tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Though More was immediately isolated from the main squad, there was a threat looming over the health of other MI players and support staff as they were residing in the same hotel in Chennai.

Mumbai Indians have organized their training camp in Chennai this year as they will be locking horns against the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the first fixture of the 2021 edition of the IPL at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

After More tested positive, MI’s training and practice session, scheduled on Tuesday, was canceled with immediate effect and all the players and other members underwent another round of COVID-19 testing. However, in what comes as a huge relief for Mumbai Indians, all the other members of the camp, except More, returned a negative result.

More will now have to practice self-isolation for a minimum of ten days as per the SOPs laid out by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After the mandatory isolation, the veteran will undergo another round of coronavirus testing and will be allowed to reside with the main squad only if he returns a negative result.

Two more groundsmen tests positive at Wankhede Stadium

Meanwhile, there is another bad news for the BCCI and IPL governing council as it is learned that two more groundsmen and a plumber tested positive at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the deadly virus. This news will be a cause of worry for BCCI as earlier ten groundsmen returned with a positive result.

The Wankhede Stadium is scheduled to host 10 IPL league matches from April 10 to April 25. “Two more ground staff members and one plumber returned with positive Covid-19 results on Monday. Earlier, 10 ground staff members had tested positive for Covid at the Wankhede,” the MCA source said as quoted by Zee5.

“There is a clubhouse inside the Wankhede Stadium, all the groundstaff will stay there till the Mumbai leg is over in order to conduct the IPL smoothly,” the source added.