Krunal, Chahal and Gowtham return home after testing negative for COVID-19

Indian players Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham have returned home after testing negative for COVID-19 in Colombo, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo. 

Pandya was the first in the Indian contingent to contract the virus on July 27, which forced the second T20I to be postponed by a day. Chahal and Gowtham, who were among the eight players identified as close contacts, initially tested negative after being isolated at a facility in Colombo but returned positive tests two days later.

The trio had to stay back for nine days after contracting the virus during the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka which concluded with the third T20I on July 29.

With direct commercial flights between India and Sri Lanka suspended because of the pandemic, the three had to travel via Male, the capital of Maldives before arriving at their respective destinations in India after a stop at Kochi.

According to a health advisory by BCCI, the players from the Sri Lanka tour will be transferred from a bubble to bubble for the IPL 2021 second leg. Pandya (Mumbai Indians), Chahal (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Gowtham (Punjab Kings) are all expected to join their franchises in the UAE.