IPL 2021: Devdutt Padikkal Isolating At Home After Testing Positive For COVID-19 And Feeling Well

In a body blow to the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the season opener against the Mumbai Indians, opener Devdutt Padikkal tested positive for COVID-19. Since testing positive for the deadly virus, Devdutt Padikkal has stayed in home quarantine in Bangalore. The swashbuckling left-handed opener is likely to miss a couple of games for the Royal Challengers and the franchise’s medical team is monitoring his health.

Devdutt Padikkal’s absence indeed comes as a massive blow to the Royal Challengers Bangalore as he had been one of their best batsmen in IPL 2020. The 20-year old hammered 473 runs in 15 matches at 31.53 alongside five fifties. Padikkal’s efforts earned him the emerging player of the year award in IPL 2020. The southpaw was also the second-highest run-getter in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 737 runs in seven games.

The franchise said in a statement that Devdutt Padikkal tested positive on the 22nd of March and has been in home isolation in Bangalore ever since. The team’s medical unit remains in constant touch with the youngster to ensure his well-being and a negative RT-PCR test is mandatory for him to rejoin the outfit.

“Royal Challengers Bangalore, Left-handed Batsman Devdutt Padikkal had tested positive on 22nd March 2021. He has been in mandatory quarantine at his residence in Bengaluru since then. He will be fit to join the RCB bio-bubble once his RT-PCR tests are negative. RCB Medical team is in touch with Devdutt ensuring his safety and well-being. Devdutt is feeling well and we can’t wait to have him join the squad for the IPL season ahead,” the statement read as quoted by News18.

Devdutt Padikkal, the third instance amongst players, to test positive for COVID-19:

Meanwhile, the Karnataka-born batsman is the third player to have tested positive for COVID-19. Delhi Capitals’ Axar Patel and Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nitish Rana are amongst them too; however, the latter resumed training after recovering from the infection. Despite eight groundsmen of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai contracting the disease and the city witnessing an alarming rise in cases, the BCCI has declared they have not considered shiting the matches to other venues.

Also Read: IPL 2021: CSK CEO Confirms Moeen Ali Made No Request To Remove Any Logo From The Jersey