Ravichandran Ashwin tests positive, to join team later

Bengaluru, June 21

Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has not travelled to England along with his India teammates for the rescheduled fifth Test against the hosts after testing positive for Covid-19, a BCCI source told PTI.

Ashwin is currently in quarantine and will only join the squad after meeting all protocol requirements. The Indian team had left for England on June 16.

“Ashwin hasn’t travelled with the squad to UK as he has tested positive for Covid-19. But we are hopeful that he will recover well in time before the Test match starts on July 1,” the BCCI source said on conditions of anonymity. “However, he might miss the practice game against Leicestershire,” the source added.

After the IPL, Ashwin had played in a red-ball match of the Tamil Nadu league, bowling 20 overs to get some game time in the long format.

The rest of the Indian squad is already in Leicester and started training under the supervision of bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and batting coach Vikram Rathour.

Rahul Dravid, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have reached London after finishing the T20I assignment against South Africa and will travel to Leicester on Tuesday.