R Ashwin during a Test match (file photo)
Ravichandran Ashwin has tested positive for COVID-19 and has not traveled to London with the India team for the fifth and final Test against England.
In a recent development, it has been learned that the senior off-spinner has not gone for Tests alone with his teammates. The Indian Test team left for the UK on June 16 and Ashwin was not part of the touring team.
The premier off-spinner is currently in quarantine and will join the team only after fulfilling all protocol requirements.
A BCCI official said, “Ashwin has not traveled with the team to the UK as he has tested positive for COVID 19 before departure. But we are hopeful that he will recover before the Test match starts from July 1. PTI,
“However, he may miss the warm-up match against Leicestershire,” the source said.
During this, Hardik PandyaIshan Kishan and other T20 experts have been given a three-day break by the BCCI and will leave for Ireland later this month for the two-match T20I series. The board has decided to rest the players while coaches Rahul Dravid, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant have taken an early morning flight to London.
The All India Senior Selection Committee had selected a 17-man squad for the T20I series against Ireland, where Team India, led by Hardik Pandya, will play two T20Is on June 26 and 28 in Dublin.
“All the players selected for the Ireland T20 are going home for a three-day break. Although there is no bio-bubble, they did not have their families with them for the series and some have been playing non-stop since then. IPL, It is appropriate that they spend some time at home,” said a BCCI official.
The rest of the team is already in Leicester and has started training under the supervision of bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and batting coach Vikram Rathor.
(Inputs PTI)