IPL 2021: Devdutt Padikkal joins Royal Challengers Bangalore camp after negative COVID-19 test

IPL 2021: Devdutt Padikkal joins Royal Challengers Bangalore camp after negative COVID-19 test

Devdutt Padikkal

In what is good news for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal has returned to training after testing negative for COVID-19. The alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) among the likes of groundstaff, broadcast teams, content teams, coaching staff and the players has been a huge cause for concern.

Padikkal tested positive for the virus in late March following the positive tests of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nitish Rana and Delhi Capitals’ Axar Patel. Further, another positive test in the RCB camp was reported as Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams was found to have the virus. He is asymptomatic at the moment, according to the franchise, and will undergo a period of isolation until he tests negative.

Royal Challengers Bangalore announce Devdutt Padikkal’s return

Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s official Twitter handle announced Devdutt Padikkal’s return today in a video captioning it, “Devdutt Padikkal joins the RCB camp after testing negative for COVID-19. He’s healthy, feeling better and raring to go. Here’s a message to all RCB fans from Devdutt.“

In the video, Padikkal can be seen saying, “First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their wishes and prayers. It is really important to me and means a lot to me. As you know, I had tested positive two weeks back for Covid-19. As per BCCI and IPL protocols, I had to quarantine at home for two weeks but now I’ve joined the camp after two negative camps. I’m feeling completely fine and can’t wait to join the RCB camp.”

RCB open their IPL 2021 campaign against the Mumbai Indians on the 9th of April.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Daniel Sams tests positive for COVID-19

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