Delhi team has been struck by the COVID-19 for the third time in the ongoing Indian T20 League 2022. The first time this happened some of the members tested positive. It started with team physio Patrick Farhart, sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar, team doctor Abhijit Salvi, and social media content member Akash Mane. After them, players such as Mitchell Marsh and Tim Siefert contracted the virus.
For the unversed, the duo tested positive ahead of the game against Punjab on April 21. The game looked in jeopardy as the other players were getting tested as per the protocols. However, in a positive turn of events, no other player or any other member tested positive. The Men In Blue and Red went on to hand over a crushing defeat to Punjab, after the venue of the match was shifted.
After a while, ahead of their game against Rajasthan, the team’s head coach Ricky Ponting’s family member tested positive. The family member along with him was isolated. The game went ahead and the team went on to lose by 15 runs. On the other hand, ahead of their game against Chennai on May 8, a player has tested positive for the deadly disease. All the players were asked to isolate themselves in their respective hotel rooms.
After the development, players were tested for another round at the time of writing. It will be interesting to see if the game goes ahead or not. For the game to go ahead, at least 12 players must be available including seven Indian and five overseas. Notably, the team met the Chennai players physically on May 7. Both teams would be hoping that no more players test positive.
On the other hand, the BCCI would be hoping that this thing doesn’t go the way it went last year. During the 2021 season, the tournament was suspended midway after players from different teams started testing positive. The tournament had to be shifted and completed in the United Arab Emirates later last year. The ongoing season is reaching its business end as the teams have played 10 to 11 games each. The board would like the tournament to be concluded without any hassle.
