Dubai: On Wednesday, pace bowler T. Natarajan of Sunrisers Hyderabad tested positive for COVID-19, which is a worrying development for the ongoing IPL in the UAE. SunRisers Hyderabad will face the Delhi Capitals scheduled today. As per sources, Natarajan, who is asymptomatic, has been isolated from the rest of the team.
Another player, all-rounder Vijay Shankar, and five members of the support staff (team manager Vijay Kumar, physiotherapist Shyam Sumdar J, Doctor Anjana Vannan, logistics manager Tushar Khedkar, and net bowler Periyasamy Ganesan) were identified as his intimate contacts and are isolated.
According to an official IPL announcement, “The rest of the contingent, including close contacts, had RT-PCR testing done this morning at 5 A.M (GMT), and the reports were negative. As a result, the game between SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals scheduled for tonight at the Dubai International Stadium will be played.” This is a major setback for SunRisers Hyderabad, since T Natarajan is their go-to death-over bowler. SRH is hoping to improve their fortunes in the UAE leg, where they are now ranked last in the points table.
Earlier, the IPL was disrupted in early May when several players were infected, forcing the event to be postponed and then relocated to the UAE.