Delhi Capitals' spinner Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19.
With merely seven days to go for Delhi Capitals' first match of the season against Chennai Super Kings, the franchise faced a big blow as their premier left-arm spinner Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19.
The official social media account of Delhi Capitals confirmed the news.
"Delhi Capitals all-rounder #AxarPatel has tested positive for COVID-19. He had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on Mar 28, 2021, with a negative report. His report from the second COVID test, came positive," the DC wrote.
Axar is the second player participating in the tournament to have tested positive for the coronavirus. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders' Nitish Rana had also tested positive, but returned a negative test earlier this week.
According to the BCCI SOP for a COVID-19 positive case, the concerned person must isolate in the designated area outside the bio-secure environment for a minimum of 10 days from the first day of symptoms or the date of collection of the sample which resulted in a positive RT-PCR report, whichever is earlier.
He is set to miss the team's IPL-opener on April 10 due to quarantine protocols. "He had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on March 28, 2021, with a negative report. His report from the second COVID test, came positive," the franchise said in a statement.
"He is currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility. The Delhi Capitals medical team is in constant touch with Axar and ensuring his safety and well-being. We wish him a speedy recovery."
The franchises based in Mumbai face further concerns and have tightened the testing after members of ground staff at the Wankhede Stadium also tested positive on Saturday. Maharashtra has been the worst-hit state in the second wave of COVID-19 in India.
Maharashtra on Friday recorded 47,827 new COVID-19 cases, its highest daily rise since the coronavirus pandemic began last year.
It took the state's caseload to 29,04,076, a Health Department statement said. As many as 202 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the state on Friday, taking the death toll to 55,379, it said.
There are 3,89,832 active cases in the state.
