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After seven members of the Indian camp tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday evening, the start date for the 1st ODI looks in doubt. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) found itself in splits after three players of the main squad, Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, and a standby player (Navdeep Saini) returned with a COVID positive report.
The Indian cricket board tried to recall KL Rahul, but the opener stuck to his decision of joining the squad from the second ODI onwards. BCCI then added Mayank Agarwal to the squad to partner with Rohit at the top. However, they are still unsure about the timely start to the 1st ODI as RT-PCR results for the entire squad are still awaited. After the outbreak of the virus in the camp, the seven members have been sent into separate isolation while the entire squad also remains in isolation until the results come.
This also forced the team to cancel its practice session scheduled for Thursday and poses a threat to the schedule. As reported by InsideSport, the board is closely monitoring the situation and is sticking to the original schedule for now. But, if more COVID-positive cases are found in the camp, the 1st ODI may be pushed back by a day or two.
“For now the series will be played as per schedule. But if more positive cases come out today or tomorrow, we can push the start by a day or two. We will be flexible about that”, a BCCI official was quoted saying by InsideSport.
What happens if the 1st ODI is postponed?
As per the InsideSport report, if the 1st ODI is pushed back by a day or two, it will either be played on 7th or 8th February. In case of a one-day postponement, the remaining games can be played as per the original schedule. But if it is pushed by two days, the entire itinerary will have to be tinkered. Playing two back-to-back ODIs will not be an option so the second and third ODIs will have to be pushed back.
After the ODI series, both teams are also slated to play a three-match T20I series starting from 16 February.