India vs Sri lanka: Krunal Pandya tests COVID-positive

Krunal Pandya has tested positive for Covid-19, forcing the second T20I between Sri Lanka and India, scheduled for Tuesday evening, to be pushed back by a day.

Pandya's positive test result came just minutes before the game's planned start time - 8 p.m. local time - and eight other members of the Indian contingent have been identified as Pandya's close contacts and advised to remain in their hotel rooms.

"The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India originally scheduled to be played on July 27 has been pushed forward by a day and will now take place on Wednesday, July 28," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a media statement.

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"Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts," the release added.

As a result, the entire Indian contingent will undergo RT-PCR tests to rule out any additional outbreaks. The series' final two games will now be played back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday, assuming the players' RT-PCR tests come back negative.

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India had beaten Sri Lanka in the first T20 international, after having earlier won the ODI series 2-1. The second T20I has been scheduled for Wednesday as of now, but it will go ahead depending on whether there are more cases of the pandemic in the Indian camp or not.

Krunal Pandya has been an integral member of the team, that is currently playing in Sri Lanka. He has made decent contributions with both bat and ball in the ODI and T20I series.

Earlier in the month, there was a Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp in England as well. Rishabh Pant had tested postive and had stayed back in London as the rest of the Indian team travelled to Durham to play as practice match.