Highlights:
- India vs West Indies ODI series will kick-start on February 06th-2022.
- Seven persons were tested positive for Covid-19 in Indian Camp.
- Dhawan, Iyer and Gaikwad among seven players in the squad who tested positive.
- Stand-by fast bowler Navdeep Saini also tested positive for Covid-19.
- On Feb 03rd, Small batch of Indian cricketers start practice session in Ahmedabad.
India vs West Indies series-2022:
The West Indies cricket team is scheduled to tour India in January and February-2022 to play three ODI’s and three T20I matches. The ODI series will form part of the inaugural of ICC Cricket World Cup Super League-2020-23. It has been scheduled to begin on February 06th-2022 and ends on February 20th-2022. All the ODI matches will be played at Ahmedabad and T20I matches at Kolkata.
Several players test positive for Covid-19 in Indian Camp:
Totally seven players were tested positive in Indian camp including three main players – senior opener Shikhar Dhawan, reserve opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer. Standby player – net bowler Navdeep Saini also tested positive for Covid-19. They were ruled out of the first two ODI’s in Ahmedabad.
Apart from the four above mentioned players, their close contacts have also been isolated. Meanwhile, Axar Patel, who was supposed to join the team in Ahmedabad could not as he also tested positive before arriving. He was picked for the T20 team and will join the team once he returns three negative Covid-19 tests after 7 days.
Small batch of Indian Cricketers start their practice session:
The start of first ODI series on February 06th (Sunday) can be pushed to another date if more positive cases reported from the Indian camp.
On Feb 3rd (Thursday), a BCCI official told, “For now the series will be played as per schedule. But if more positive cases come out today or tomorrow, we can push the start by a day or two. We will be flexible about that”.
Meanwhile, RT-PCR test conducted on Feb 04th, there has been no new positive case till now. The good news though is that a small batch of 5-6 Indian players are in ground for a practice session.
A senior BCCI official told, “Good news is that there has been no new positive case. Rohit, Deepak and a few more players have begun practice. The ones who tested positive will spend 7 days in isolation. Mayank will join the squad on Saturday”.
Covid-19 positive players are in Isolation:
Meanwhile the entire team is in isolation for now. The BCCI medical team is handling the positive cases and the infected persons will remain in isolation till complete recovery is attained. The infected players have been isolated in a separate hotel floor while both the teams are sharing the same hotel.
A senior BCCI official said, “Players of both teams have been asked to isolate as a precaution. Three players and support staff have tested positive and have been isolated. We are monitoring the situation. There is no decision on the series. It will go ahead. If needed, we will bring in replacements”.
The practice is allowed only for those players who were not close contacts to Covid-19 cases.
Details of the Covid-19 cases in India Camp:
- The BCCI released statement that on January 31st (Monday), Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and fast bowler Navdeep Saini’s (Standby player) RT-PCR tests conducted – have returned positive results to both of them.
- Fielding Coach T. Dilip and Security Liaison Officer B. Lokesh’s RT-PCR tests conducted on January 31st (Monday) have returned positive results.
- On February 01st (Tuesday), Batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad’s – RT-PCR test conducted has returned a positive result. He had tested negative during the first round of testing on Monday.
- On February 02nd (Wednesday), Batsman Shreyas Iyer and Sports Massage Therapist Rajeev Kumar’s RT-PCR tests conducted have returned positive results. Both had tested negative in the first two rounds of testing.
- Axar Patel tested positive before starting his journey for Ahmedabad. He has been grounded and will not join the squad in Ahmedabad for now.
Mayank Agarwal as replacement after multiple Covid-19 positive in India team squad:Opener Mayank Agarwal was named replacement after four Indian squad players were tests positive for Covid-19.
India squad – Details:
The India squad has 26 players with both ODI and T20s combined and the likes of Ishan Kishan and Venkatesh Iyer are likely to be added to ODI squad after the Covid outbreak. At present, Rohit Sharma is the only opener available and Virat Kohli could be forced to open if they do not call in replacements. KL Rahul will only join from the second ODI. Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will miss the first two ODIs.
West Indies players start their practice session in Ahemedabad:
Meanwhile, a Cricket West Indies (CWI) official has confirmed that there are no positive cases in the visiting camp.
After the Indian cricket team, West Indies have also started their training at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of the upcoming ODI and T2OI series.
The Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) uploaded a video on their social media handle which shows the West Indies team practicing in the nets.
