Team Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal has become the third cricketer from the Indian T20 League to have tested positive for the global virus. The news comes just a day after Delhi all-rounder Axar Patel had contracted the virus, resulting in him missing his team's opening game Chennai on April 10.
As reported by the Times of India, the young opener is under quarantine and is in a 'race against time' to be fit for Bangalore's first game against Mumbai on Friday, April 9 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. . This could be a huge blow for the Virat Kohli-led team given the form he was in. The 20-year-old had scored 737 runs from seven Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at an average of 147.40. He showed glimpses of his talent in last year's edition of the Indian T20 League, rightfully winning the ‘Emerging Player’ award in his debut season.
It is said that Padikkal was set to open for Bangalore alongside Virat Kohli, but if he is to miss the opening games, Bangalore might have to look for decent alternatives.
The 14th edition of the Indian T20 League came under the scanner when as many as 10 members of the ground staff at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai tested positive for the global virus. While there are reports that BCCI may look to change the venue, Mumbai is still very well in the existing plan for the time being. Reports have it that Hyderabad and Indore are kept on standby as options if the situation goes out of control in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Padikkal's name is third in the list of players who have contracted the virus just before the Indian T20 League. Before Axar Patel's report broke in, Kolkata batsman Nitish Rana had contracted the virus in late March. He has since joined his teammates in training after returning with a negative test.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @devdpd07
