IPL gets first Covid-19 case: Rajasthan Royals fielding coach Dishant Yagnik tests positive

The Indian Premier League (IPL) reported its first Covid-19 case on Wednesday with Rajasthan Royals fielding coach Dishant Yagnik testing positive.
The news comes at a time when preparations for the much-delayed 13th edition of the league are in full swing and franchises are busy sorting out the logistics to take players to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the tournament will be played from September 19.

Rajasthan Royals, the 2008 champions, issued a statement saying Yagnik has tested positive. The team was set to assemble in Mumbai next week for their flight to the UAE.

The franchise said that it “implemented an extra test for all the players, support staff and management travelling to the UAE in addition to the two tests recommended by BCCI, to ensure as robust a process as possible”.



Yagnik, who was a wicket-keeper batsman for Rajasthan in the domestic circuit and also represented the franchise in IPL, is currently in his hometown Udaipur, Rajasthan. He has been advised to get admitted to a hospital for his 14-day quarantine.

“After 14 days, Dishant will be undergoing two tests as per the protocols of BCCI. On return of two negative reports, he will be allowed to join the team after self-isolating for six days and receiving three further negative tests upon his arrival in the UAE,” Rajasthan Royals said in the statement.

However, other Rajasthan Royals players are safe. “We can confirm that no Rajasthan Royals or other IPL players have been in close proximity to Dishant in the past 10 days,” the statement said.

The 13th edition of IPL is set to take place in the UAE from September 19 to November 10. The tournament got necessary clearances from the government on Monday.