Rishabh Pant tests Covid positive ahead of England Tests

INDIA'S ace wicket-keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 in England, just weeks before Virat Kohli’s men take on the hosts in a five-Test series starting at Trent Bridge.

Sources said Pant took a Covid test eight days ago and was asymptomatic. The 23-year-old explosive left-handed batsman will not travel with the rest of the squad to Durham where the team is set to play a practice game against the County Championship XI ahead of the high-profile Test series.

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Pant, who took his first dose of Covid vaccine on May 13, was recently seen attending the Euro 2020 match between England and Germany at the Wembley Stadium with his friends. The Indian players were given a 20-day break after competing in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in Southampton against New Zealand, which India lost.

Updating the status in the Indian camp, the Board of Control for Cricket in India vice president Rajiv Shukla said no other player has been affected by the virus.

“Yes, one player has tested positive but he has been in isolation for the last eight days. He was not staying in any hotel with the team, so no other player has been affected,” Shukla was quoted as saying by PTI.

Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was also seen attending the Euro semi-final between Italy and Spain with his wife Sanjana Ganesan at the Wembley Stadium.