SL vs IND: Second T20I postponed after Krunal Pandya tests positive for COVID-19

The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India has been postponed to July 28 after India all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19. Pandya is the second Indian player after Rishabh Pant to test positive for the virus. The Indian team has been in the bubble ever since they arrived in Sri Lanka thus how Pandya got infected with COVID-19 is a matter of investigation. Meanwhile, eight close contacts have been identified and sent into isolation. The players will be re-tested for COVID-19 and only if they return negative results, the series will resume. The final game of the series has also been pushed to July 30.

“Krunal has tested positive and the T20I on Tuesday has been postponed and will happen on Wednesday if all the others test negative. The players are currently isolating,” a source close to the developments said.

Recently, an employee of Sri Lanka Cricket associated with the media also tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the press box to remain close for the first T20I. Earlier, Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower, data analyst GT Niroshan and a reserve batsman also tested positive days after returning from England where COVID-19 infected seven members of the England white-ball contingent. Last week, the second ODI between West Indies and Australia was also postponed after a non-playing member of the hosts contingent tested positive for Coronavirus.

India are leading the series 1-0, having comprehensively won the first T20I by 38 runs.