All-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, resulting in the postponement of the second T20I between Sri Lanka and India that was scheduled for the evening.
The second T20I has now been pushed back by a day and will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday before the third match of the 20-over series between the teams takes place on Thursday.
The positive result came a few hours before the scheduled start of play at 8 PM IST. It is understood that eight other members of the squad have been in close contact with Krunal and they have been asked to self-isolate in their respective hotel rooms.
Krunal’s positive result was confirmed on Tuesday morning after the latest round of tests for the travelling unit were conducted on Monday.
Shortly after the news of him testing positive was out, a BCCI press statement confirmed that "the entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad".
Team India is in Sri Lanka to play three ODIs and the same number of T20Is. The visitors clinched the ODI series 2-1 and were leading 1-0 in the T20Is before this latest development.
The all-rounder is part of a new-look India squad that is visiting the island country for a couple of limited overs series, while the senior team is in England for a five-match Test series, starting August.
Rahul Dravid is in-charge of the squad touring Sri Lanka with Shikhar Dhawan acting as the captain and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as his deputy.
Featured photo : Ishara S. Kodikara / AFP
