NEWS
Follow UsHours after reports claimed that Mitchell Marsh tested negative for Covid-19 in the RT-PCR test, he has been admitted to the hospital, confirmed Delhi Capitals in a release. sent into isolation for seven days. He is the third member of the contingent to be tested positive after physio Patrick Farhart and one of the support staff members’ reports came out to be negative.
"Delhi Capitals all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has tested positive for COVID-19, following which he has been admitted to a hospital. The Delhi Capitals medical team is closely monitoring Marsh's condition," the IPL franchise said in a release issued late in the evening.
While the IPL rules suggest that if a team has 12 players fit, then the game should go ahead but as of now, a final call regarding the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings game at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday will be taken on Tuesday.
The other two who have tested positive are team doctor Abhijit Salvi and the team masseur. The RTPCR reports of all other players have returned negative.
A few days back, team physio Patrick Farhart had tested positive for the virus, thus taking the total number of cases to four. "A few more members from the Delhi Capitals bio-bubble, including support staff members, have returned positive tests as well. Though they are all asymptomatic, their condition is being monitored closely by the franchise," the release further stated.
"All remaining members of the bubble are currently in isolation in their respective rooms, and will be tested regularly."
During the day, Marsh had undergone two RT-PCR tests with the first one coming negative and the subsequent testing returning positive. This was after Marsh complained of sore throat and mild fever.
"Mitchell Marsh's RTPCR first report has come negative. However, the second RT-PCR report turned out to be positive. All other playing members have negative in RT-PCR tests. There is no threat to Wednesday's match between DC and PBKS," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Monday.
It is understood that the Australian all-rounder showed some symptoms and a Rapid Antigen Test was performed which came positive. It could have been due to the fact that he was undergoing rehab under Farhart and picked up mild symptoms which didn't turn out to be alarming. Salvi also seemed to have tested positive because of his proximity to Farhart and Marsh.
"DC were supposed to travel to Pune today but the entire squad members have been told to retire to their respective rooms and as per protocol RT PCR is being done to ascertain whether there is an outbreak in the camp or it is an isolated case like Patrick Farhart," a BCCI source had earlier said.
With all other players testing negative, the match is likely to go on as scheduled but the team will only travel after another round of RT-PCR tests on Tuesday. "All teams are staying at Conrad Hotel in Pune where BCCI has created a bio-bubble. They were supposed to travel but now it has been delayed. Obviously, all those whose results would be negative would carry on with onward journey tomorrow," the source said.
As per the BCCI's testing protocols, every member of an IPL squad in a team bubble is tested every fifth day unlike last season when it was done every third day. However, if the franchise on its own wants the members to be tested, they are more than welcome. The development comes after team physio Farhart tested positive last week.
"We were supposed to leave today but have been told to stay in the room until further notice," said a team source.
With COVID cases rising outside the IPL bio-bubble, the virus threat inside the controlled environment has also increased. Last season, the tournament had to be suspended midway due to the second wave. It was resumed and completed in the UAE in September-October.