He and four other members of the team are currently isolating and will miss their Durham practice match.

By Pooja Sachdev

On 8th July, it was reported that star Indian cricket player, Rishabh Pant (a wicket-keeper and batsman) tested positive for COVID-19. His results came as he was on an ongoing tour in England along with 22 other cricket players, and it’s been confirmed that he had received both doses of the COVID vaccine by 7th July. However, prior to his second dose, he was seen watching the Euros 2021 football match at London’s Wembley Stadium on 29th June. Rishab’s training assistant, Dayanand Garani, also tested positive for the virus, while Abhimanyu Easwaren, Wriddhiman Saha, and Bharat Arun, who have been in close contact with the two,  have also been put in isolation in a hotel in London for 10 days.  This therefore leaves all of them out for the next practice match in Durham on July 20th, against a Country XI at Emirates Riverside. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement that said, “Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on 8th July. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive.”  The BCCI also confirmed that no other team members have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, as Rishabh has been isolated separate from the team.

Rishabh is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and it is hoped that he will soon recover enough to join the squad in Durham, after testing negative. The BCCI had also confirmed that the rest of the Indian cricket team and their family members have already received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month.