IPL 2021: T Natarajan tests COVID-19 positive, DC vs SRH to go ahead

Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer T Natarajan has tested COVID-19 positive in a scheduled RT-PCR test, the Indian Premier League (IPL) said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement went on to say that SRH’s fixture against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dubai will go ahead as planned. Left-arm pacer Natarajan has been isolated from the rest of the squad. Six other members in the SRH camp, including all-rounder Vijay Shankar, were deemed to have been close contacts and have also been isolated.

T Natarajan has tested positive for COVID-19, and is presently in isolation.

We wish you a swift and full recovery, Nattu. 🙏 https://t.co/vZDP6gvLLT pic.twitter.com/6x7OSunc7m

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) September 22, 2021

Team manager Vijay Kumar, physiotherapist Shyam Sundar J, doctor Anjana Vannan, logistics manager Tushar Khedkar and nets bowler Periyasamy Ganesan are the members of the support staff who will be kept in isolation. “The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5AM local time this morning and the test reports are negative,” said the IPL statement. As per the IPL’s Standard Operating Procedure, Natarajan will now have to isolate for 10 days and test negative twice before being allowed back into the bubble. The development is a major blow to SRH, who could not avail his services in the first leg due to injury. The 30-year-old Natarajan has 20 IPL wickets from 24 matches that he has played. The IPL resumed in UAE on Sunday after it had to be halted in May due to multiple COVID cases in its bio-bubble when the event was being staged in India.