The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday (July 15) confirmed two members of the touring party have tested positive for COVID-19. Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant had tested positive for the virus on 8th July while throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani tested positive following the RTPCR tests conducted on July 14th. 

While Pant had opted to not stay at the team’s hotel during the three-week break awarded to the squad post the World Test Championship (WTC) final last month, Garani was staying at the team hotel. In a statement, BCCI confirmed that Pant is asymptomatic and currently under isolation. Pant will be able to join the team after undergoing two negative RTPCR tests and is expected to be fit for the Test series against England which gets underway next month.

Garani’s positive test, on the other hand, has forced three other members of India’s touring party in isolation. Bowling coach Bharat Arun, wicket-keeper batsman Wrddhiman Saha and batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran are in isolation after coming in close contact with Garani. All four will remain in their rooms in London and will serve a ten-day isolation period.

“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. He is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests,” BCCI said in a statement on Thursday.

“The BCCI Medical Team have identified B. Arun, Bowling Coach, Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran as close contacts of Garani, who was in the team hotel when he tested positive following RT-PCR tests on 14th July. The four personnel will undergo 10-day isolation and will remain in their respective rooms in the team hotel in London,” it added.

All members of the Indian contingent and their family members had received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in London earlier this year and are also undergoing lateral flow tests on a regular basis to avoid any risks. The team has left for Durban where they will be playing a three-,day practice match against County Championship XI.

With both Pant and Saha out of the side, KL Rahul is likely to keep wickets for the side in the practice match which gets underway from July 20. Pant is expected to join the squad ahead of the start of the Test series against England next month after recovering fully. He is being constantly monitored by the BCCI medical team.