Agencies

Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the start of their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign next week, the team said on Saturday. Meanwhile, a week before the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is to host the first match, eight groundsmen who work at the facility have tested positive for Covid-19.

According to reports, there are 19 groundsmen who work at the stadium and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) last week had made their employees undergo the Covid-19 test. While three people tested positive for Covid-19 on March 26, in another round of tests, five more people were found to be positive for the virus on April 1. A Chennai Super Kings member has also tested positive for the novel Coronavirus on Saturday in Mumbai.

The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will start from April 9, with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Virat Kohli’s Roya Challengers Bangalore in the season opener at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Delhi in a statement said the 27-year-old Axar had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on Sunday with a negative report. “His report from the second COVID test, came positive,” the 2020 IPL finalists said in a statement.

England and Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan, who was ruled out of the final two ODIs against India in the recently concluded series due to a hand injury, appeared in relaxed mood at training in Chennai yesterday.

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