Team India captain Rohit Sharma tests positive for COVID-19, in isolation

Following a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on Saturday, India skipper Rohit Sharma tested positive for COVID-19.

Rohit has been quarantined in the team hotel.

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“He is currently in isolation at the team hotel and is under the care of the BCCI Medical Team,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued in a statement.

On Sunday, an RT-PCR test will be performed to determine his Cycle Threshold (CT) value.

Rohit played in India’s current tour game against Leicestershire, but did not bat on Day 3 of India’s second innings. In the first dig, he batted first and made 25 before being removed by Roman Walker.

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He is now in a battle against time to make the rescheduled Test against England at Edgbaston, which begins on July 1. India is also missing their other regular opener, KL Rahul, who has a groin injury.

Last year, Rohit was India’s top batsman in four Tests until the final one was rescheduled owing to Covid-19 concerns in the Indian camp. He batted 368 times for an average of 52.27, including a century at The Oval. India leads the series 2-1 and has to win the fourth Test to win their first Test series in England since 2007.

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Earlier, all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was denied boarding on a flight to the United Kingdom after testing positive for the coronavirus.

On June 26, Indian cricket fans might be at a loss as to which game to watch. On the one hand, Indian players will take part in a warm-up game before the fifth and final Test against England at Edgbaston. The same day, an Indian squad will face Ireland in a Twenty20 International in Dublin. The fact that the BCCI fields two sides in different formats demonstrate the breadth of Indian cricket. It also reflects on the demanding schedule.