IPL 2021: RCB Opener Devdutt Padikkal Tests Positive For COVID-19

As the IPL 2021 awaits its inception on April 09, the COVID-19 scare is massively spoiling the party. Now, RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal has tested positive for COVID-19 according to some media reports. Although, neither RCB nor Padikkal himself, has confirmed the news but media reports have made it official.

Padikkal is the third player after Nitish Rana and Axar Patel to have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of IPL 2021. It is notable that RCB will be playing the opening game of IPL 2021 against Mumbai Indians on April 9 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Now, Paddikal’s availability in the first game is thought far from reality.

Devdutt Padikkal Tests Positive For COVID-19

Devdutt Padikkal is the latest IPL player to have contracted the novel coronavirus. As per a report in TOI, the RCB player tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The RCB opener has been isolated from the rest of the squad and is in quarantine. Padikkal was a key member of the squad as he had a brilliant maiden IPL outing in IPL 2020.

He was RCB’s top-scorer in the last season. Not only this, but he also had a brilliant Vijay Hazare Trophy this year wherein, he smashed multiple records and was only behind Prithvi Shaw in the top run-getters list. Considering his form, RCB have been handed a massive blow ahead of their opening fixture.

IPL Franchises Gear Up For IPL 2021

All the IPL franchises are now gearing up for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2021. The tournament is slated to start from April 9 this year and all the big names have landed in India to join their squads. A total of 6 venues have been finalized to conduct the IPL this year as there will be no home and away venues for any team.

The 6 venues that have been finalized are Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Delhi. The initial games of the tournament will take place behind closed doors as COVID-19 cases in India keep taking a toll.