Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal has tested positive for Covid-19 as per the statement released by the club.
For the last 48 hours, the news of the Kerala-born batsman testing positive for the dangerous Covid-19 disease has been making rounds on the internet but it was finally confirmed by the club on Sunday night.
The statement released by RCB said,
“Devdutt Padikkal tested positive for COVID-19 on 22nd March 2021. He has been in mandatory quarantine at his residence in Bengaluru since then. Devdutt will be fit to join the RCB bio-bubble once his RT-PCR tests are negative, as per IPL protocol.”
The statement further said,
“RCB Medical team is in touch with Devdutt ensuring his safety and well-being. He is feeling well and we can’t wait to have him join the squad for IPL 2021.”
The 20-year old opening batsman made his debut for RCB in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League and enjoyed a stellar first season in the league that is celebrated as a stage for giving chances to the upcoming Indian players. The southpaw scored 473 runs in 15 matches notching five half-centuries and even outshining his fellow opener and Australian limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch.
Padikkal is expected to miss out on the season opener against Mumbai Indians as he hasn’t joined the training camp in Chennai yet and another upcoming star in Mohammed Azharudeen might open the batting with skipper Virat Kohli for the first couple of matches of IPL 2021.