The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) issued a statement on their batsman Nitish Rana’s COVID-19 tests and confirmed that the batsman had returned a negative test result.

Nitish, as per the statement, joined the KKR camp on March 21st after returning a negative Covid test. But the left-hander was tested positive for the virus on March 22, and since then, was placed in isolation as per the IPL Covid protocols, the statement added.

"Nitish Rana had checked into the KKR team hotel in Mumbai, on March 21, 2021, with a negative COVID report which was done on March 19, 2021. As per IPL protocol, he was tested on March 22, during his quarantine and the report showed that he was positive.

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He has had no symptoms and has been completely asymptomatic since. Again as per IPL protocol, he isolated himself and was tested again today. We are glad to report that he has tested negative. We expect him to start training with the team shortly and be fully fit well before the start of the season," the KKR statement read.

Nitish Rana has been a vital cog in KKR’s batting unit, scoring 352 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2020 for KKR and has made over 300 runs in each of his last four IPL seasons.

In all IPL, Rana has 1437 runs to his credit, at an average of 28.17. His strike rate has been 135.56 in 60 matches.