Wednesday (February 2) evening brought bad news for Team India as there was a spanner in the work ahead of the ODI series against West Indies with Shikhar Dhawan testing positive for Covid-19. The Indian star is one of few players who have contracted the ungodly virus and will now miss the first ODI on Sunday. However, the player isn't sitting back as he took to Instagram to give his medical update and stated that he is 'doing fine'. Dhawan will be a key member of the team who will miss the opening encounter as KL Rahul is also absent.
“Thank you everyone for your wishes. I’m doing fine and humbled by all the love that’s come my way,” Dhawan wrote in the Instagram post, where he was seen wearing a red shirt.
As the latest protocols go, the Delhi-based batter will now serve time-out and will be isolated until he tests negative for Covid-19.
Dhawan's absence though has opened the doors for the rest of the squad, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will feel hard done by as he also tested positive for Covid-19. The likes of Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda are likely to fill in the absence of Dhawan and Rahul.
Interestingly, despite being part of the team on several occasions Hooda is yet to make his debut for the national side. He has already stated that he will bat at whichever position he is asked, in order to make his international debut.
Despite the pandemic outbreak, the BCCI has stated that there will be no effect on the schedule and released a statement where they have stated the latest outbreak will have bearing on the series.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added Mayank Agarwal to India's ODI squad after seven members, including three players of Team India (Senior Men) tested positive for COVID-19 following three rounds of RT-PCR testing.
"The members were asked to report in Ahmedabad on 31st January 2022 for the upcoming Paytm three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies. Every member was also asked to undergo an RT-PCR test at home before embarking on their journey to Ahmedabad and the travel was undertaken only after testing negative,” the board statement read.
India play West Indies in a three-match ODI series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad while they host the Caribbean team at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata for a three-match T20I series.
