India coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Asia Cup 2022, confirmed the BCCI during the routine pre-departure testing procedure, and didn’t travel to UAE with the rest of the squad.
BCCI has said that Dravid will join the squad in UAE once he returns a negative test. India plays their first match in Asia Cup in Dubai on August 28 against rivals Pakistan.
Taking about the same, Ravi Shastri told Star Sports: "I don't think it will make that much of a difference. Today, don't call it Covid-19, it's just flu. In 3-4 days, it will be fine. He will be back on the park.”
Former India coach Ravi Shastri looked back at the missed opportunity of winning the five-Test series in England in 2021 while talking about the impact of Covid-19 on that match. Notably, India refused to play that series decider in 2021 which would have been held in Manchester after a Covid scare in their camp.
Shastri himself had to isolate himself during the 4th Test match, which India won to gain a 2-1 lead in the series. Efforts were on to complete the Test series last year but India returned home due to multiple Covid-19 cases in their camp.
Shastri said that had he been able to get into the dressing room in 6-7 days, India would have played the fifth Test in Manchester, and given the momentum they had, the then Virat Kohli-led side would have won the series in 2021 itself.
"Even I could have when I had Covid-19 last year, I could have gone into the dressing room in 6 days. I promise you, if I had gone into the dressing room in 6-7 days and we would have played that Test match and won it at Old Trafford. This Covid, Covid, you don't talk about Covid now. It's just flu. Take a couple of paracetamols and he would be back in time for India vs Pakistan," he added.
India played the rescheduled 5th Test in Southampton in July under head coach Rahul Dravid and went on to lose it, allowing England to level the series 2-2.
(Star Sports inputs)
