If the reports coming from England are true, then it seems that the Indian team has been hit by a barrage of COVID-19 infections. Earlier it was reported that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant had tested positive for Coronavirus and won’t travel to Durham with the team.

Now, as per the ANI and Cricbuzz reports, one staff member of the Indian team, Dayananda Garani, has also tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and this has resulted in bowling coach Bharat Arun being put into isolation and none of the aforementioned staff members will travel to Durham with the team for the practice match. 

One of the players who was also found to be a close contact of the infected member is wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and he has been forced to isolate as well as per protocols and won't travel to Durham with the rest of the team. 

Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments said: "Yes Dayananda has tested positive, but luckily he wasn't around too many members of the team. Saha unfortunately will have to isolate as he was a close contact. Hopefully, he returns negative tests too as Rishabh is also currently down and a subsequent test will give more clarity."

This comes after the Indian team members and support staff were on a break after the World Test Championship final and were to get together on July 15, 2021, to move to Durham to play the Select Counties XI in a three-day practice game.

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The UK has been seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections recently with multiple players and batting coach of the Sri Lankan team, Grant Flower and the data analyst of the team tested positive on arrival in Sri Lanka after their UK tour ended.

Even the Eoin Morgan-led England team which played Sri Lanka had to go into isolation after three players and 4 staff members tested positive for the COVID-19 and ECB had to conjure up a new team to put up against Pakistan in the recent ODI series under Ben Stokes’ captaincy.

(ANi inputs)