IPL 2021: Will Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals match take place today?

Sunrisers Hyderabad‘s pacer T Natarajan tested positive for COVID-19, Indian Premier League confirmed on Wednesday. Ever since the announcement, fans are rattled with only one question- Will the game go on tonight? The answer to this is, Yes. The IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will be played at the scheduled time, announced the league.

As per the statement issued by the IPL, the rest of the contingent and all the players who came in close contact with Natarajan were tested negative after an RT-PCR test and thus, the match will go on.

“The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5 am local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai,” said the statement.

Coming back to Natarajan, the player is currently asymptomatic and has isolated himself from the rest of the squad. The 30-year-old was expected to play against the Delhi Capitals in Wednesday’s game.

According to IPL, Natarajan’s positive report came after conducting a scheduled RT-PCR test. Soon after his reports, the medical team identified six close contacts of the player and they have been placed in isolation as well.

The six players who have isolated include all-rounder Vijay Shankar, team manager Vijay Kumar, physiotherapist Shyam Sundar J, doctor Anjana Vannan, logistics manager Tushar Khedkar and net bowler Periyasamy Ganesa

As per  IPL guidelines, all the players and staff members within a bubble will be tested twice a week during the second week and thereafter every fifth day for the entire duration of the tournament. Any participant testing positive for COVID-19 will have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. The individual will be tested on day nine and day ten.  Two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests taken 24 hours apart, full resolution of symptoms, and no use of medication for more than 24 hours are mandatory for re-entry into a bubble.  

The IPL 2021 tournament had to be halted midway in May after several COVID-19 cases were reported across team bio bubbles. Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI managed to shift the league to the UAE, where it resumed on September 19.