Clouds of uncertainty have once again surrounded the Indian Premier League, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan testing COVID-19 positive on Wednesday. Sunrisers Hyderabad was scheduled to kickstart phase 2 of their IPL 2021 campaign later today in a match against Delhi Capitals in Dubai.
However, ahead of the much-awaited match, SRH received a huge blow. The sensational pacer has now isolated himself from the rest of the squad and is currently asymptomatic. Besides him, another Sunrisers Hyderabad Vijay Shankar, and five other members of the support staff have been identified as close contacts of the sensational pacer.
“The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5AM local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai,” the official IPL mail stated.
Sunrisers Hyderabad also took to Twitter to share the news. In their tweet, they also wished Nataraj a speedy recovery.
Here, check out the Tweet:
T Natarajan has tested positive for COVID-19, and is presently in isolation.
We wish you a swift and full recovery, Nattu. ? https://t.co/vZDP6gvLLT pic.twitter.com/6x7OSunc7m
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) September 22, 2021
Here, check out the six members list of the cricketers, who have been placed insolation:
1. Vijay Shankar – Player
2. Vijay Kumar – Team Manager
3. Shyam Sundar J – Physiotherapist
4. Anjana Vannan – Doctor
5. Tushar Khedkar – Logistics Manager
6. Periyasamy Ganesan – Net Bowler
Meanwhile, as soon as the news of Nataraj testing COVID-19 positive came out on social media, fans flooded it with their reactions to it. Needless to say, fans are worried about the league as the Indian leg of the ongoing season was suspended after the outbreak of Coronavirus within the bio-bubble. Considering the same, fans are keeping their fingers crossed for the ongoing UAE leg of IPL 2021.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
SRH’s T Natarajan has tested positive. Rest of the contingent negative.
Match between DC and SRH is on.#SRHvDC #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/DlRxPJytlk
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) September 22, 2021
T Natarajan has tested positive for COVID19
Fans:- pic.twitter.com/G08aPrqXmv
— A$शोक ?? (@Ashok_blue_b) September 22, 2021
Huge blow to Sunrisers as Natarajan out. Some hope though as Vijay Shankar also out.
— Abijit Ganguly (@AbijitG) September 22, 2021
Hard times for T Natarajan, he got injured midway through the first phase of IPL, couldn’t play any cricket for over 5 months due to that couldn’t make it to World Cup squad. And now when he was fit and ready to go, he tested positive for COVID19. Hope he recovers soon.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 22, 2021
SRH’S T. Natarajan tests positive for covid
IPL fans to Natarajan : pic.twitter.com/Qley19sfFm
— SwatKat? (@swatic12) September 22, 2021
#IPL #TNatarajan
After hearing the news of T Natarajan being tested positive for COVID 19
IPL Fans be like: pic.twitter.com/WXrlwyNmab— Vanshaj Arora (@beingvanshaj) September 22, 2021
Indian Premier League hit by COVID19 once again. This time in UAE. SRH’s player T. Natarajan has been tested positive.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) September 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/Theavanishsingh/status/1440623053394755594?s=20
T Natarajan has tested positive (asymptomatic) for Covid-19. The match between Sunrisers and Delhi Capitals will go ahead as scheduled this evening. Six close contacts have been isolated, Vijay Shankar is the only player among them, besides a net bowler.
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) September 22, 2021
T Natarajan tests COVID-19 positive.
IPL fans: pic.twitter.com/oTwLAFhNWd— ρяα∂єєρ
(@iPradeeppareek) September 22, 2021
In the mean time, the scheduled match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will take place as planned, according to reports.