First Of All There Was No Bubble, The Country Was Open - Ravi Shastri Denies Contracting Covid-19 At The Book Launch In England

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has defended the criticism he had received upon testing positive for covid-19 after attending his book launch event in England.

Along with Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar also returned positive covid-19 tests.

Ravi Shastri has now opened up on the episode and the flak he received for attending the book launch with hundreds of people. He pointed out that there was no restriction, no bio-bubble, in England.

Speaking to Republic TV, the former head coach said: “First of all, Boris Johnson opened England on July 19. There was no bubble the country was open. We went to Leeds we stayed in a hotel where there was entire public on the floor. We used the same lifts as the people staying in a hotel. we came to London it’s all open you can go where you want to go certain places which I cannot mention how we were told not to go by the anti-corruption unit or the security or whatever, but otherwise, everything was open.”

I think I got covid in Leeds: Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri believes that he would have contracted the virus in Leeds, the venue for the third Test. The fifth Test was then cancelled after assistant physio Yogesh Parmar also was tested positive.

“In that book launch, I was the only guy who got COVID that’s what the media thinks but I think I got that in Leeds. Because of the incubation period which took place for 3/4 days then 7/8 days whatever it takes I got it wrong on the 3rd or 4th and my book launch was on the 31st. It was a beautiful book launch attended by 200-300 people very distinguished guests from all sections of society and I know that I am the only guy who got it because I had friends who came there they were all fine,” the 59-year-old stated.

India lead the series 2-1. The fifth and the last Test will be played next year when Virat Kohli’s men tour England for white-ball matches.

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