Team India hit by Covid, likely to hamper test preparations for 5th Test against England

Team India hit by Covid, likely to hamper test preparations for 5th Test against England: Team India?s test preparations for the one-off rescheduled fifth test match against England in Leicestershire has been struck by covid-19 as a couple of players have been infected with the dreaded virus. The reports have revealed that two senior players have contracted the virus.

Notably, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who hasn?t travelled with the Indian squad to England, has been tested positive for covid-19. He was tested covid positive before his departure to England.

Although Ashwin will miss the warm-up match, he is expected to recover on time for the one-off test match against England which starts on July 1 in Birmingham.

"Ashwin hasn't travelled with the squad to UK as he has tested positive for Covid-19 before departure," a BCCI source told PTI. "But we are hopeful that he will recover well in time before the Test match starts on July 1. However he might miss the practice game against Leicestershire."

It has also been learnt that former skipper Virat Kohli too struck covid after returning from his holiday in the Maldives. Kohli, though, has recovered and was seen practicing with his teammates ahead of the four-day practice match against Leicestershire, starting June 24.

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"Yes, Virat too was hit by Covid after returning from holidaying in Maldives, but he's recovered now," a source told.

The medical protocol won?t allow Virat Kohli, who has just recovered from covid-19, to undergo intense training and exercises ahead of the test match.

"This now means that India's tour game against Leicestershire from June 24 won't be as intense as coach Rahul Dravid wanted it to be, since the medical advice is to not overload the players after they've suffered Covid-19. There could be more Covid cases in the team,? revealed the source.

The first batch of the Indian team landed in England on June 16. Following a couple of days rest, the Indian contingent began their training. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and others were seen sweating out in the nets to hone their skills.

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