IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel tests positive for COVID-19

New Delhi:India and Delhi Capitals all-rounder Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19 and kept in isolation, the IPL franchise confirmed on Saturday.Patel had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on March 28 after arriving with a negative Covid-19 report, but has returned a positive test since.

He is currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility. The franchise's medical team is in constant touch with Axar and ensuring his safety and well-being.Patel is the second IPL player to have returned a positive report after Nitish Rana. The left-handed Kolkata Knight Riders batsman had initially tested positive for COVID-19 but later returned a negative report.

Meanwhile, a member of Chennai Super Kings' content team too has tested positive and has subsequently been put under isolation.The individual was not in contact with the players or the support staff and was on a different floor even before returning a positive result on his Covid-19 test.

KKR batsman Rana defeats COVID begins training

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana has joined his teammates and started training here for the upcoming Indian Premier League after testing COVID-19 negative for the second successive day.

Rana was in extended 12 days quarantine after he tested positive for COVID-19 on March 22, a day after his arrival in Mumbai.As per the guidelines set by the BCCI for IPL, Rana stayed alone in his room until he returned two negative results on the 11th and 12th days. He entered the ground for the first time on Friday.

"Finally I am out now and I'm feeling absolutely fine. It was day one of my practice and I batted a bit as well. I'm happy to join my KKR team-mates today," Rana said in a video posted by KKR on Saturday.The 27-year-old also urged everyone to stay safe and take all necessary precautions against COVID-19.

"Please take precautions and don''t take this thing lightly. You never know what will happen next, so please take care of yourself and your family. Stay safe," he said.

Rana scored 352 runs in 14 matches during the IPL 2020 season held in UAE. He was also the top-run getter for Delhi with 398 runs in seven matches at an average of 66.33 in the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy.KKR will play their first game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on April 11.(UNI)