Devdutt Padikkal, who had tested positive for Covid-19 on March 22 and had been quarantining at home since then, has traveled to Chennai and linked up with the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad after returning “negative reports for Covid-19 as per the BCCI’s protocols”. In a recent interview, Devdutt Padikkal said that “after a rollercoaster ride in the last six months now I am ready to play for my team “.
Bold Diaries: Devdutt Padikkal Interview
After a roller coaster ride in the last six months, a fit and rejuvenated Devdutt Padikkal is raring to gung-ho again. Watch his interview on @myntra presents Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/7CFkJFb4Sw
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 12, 2021
Padikkal, 20, joined the Royal Challengers’ bubble on Wednesday after traveling by road from his home in Bengaluru. He then trained with the team on Wednesday evening, meaning he would have met all criteria required under the tournament’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be passed fit.
The Royal Challengers’ second game of IPL 2021 is against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on April 14.
According to the SOPs for the IPL, “Anyone testing positive for Covid-19 must isolate for a minimum of ten days and seek advice from local health authorities. During their ten-day isolation period, the individual must repeat the RT-PCR tests, at least 24 hours apart, on Day 9 and Day 10 from the day the first RT-PCR test was conducted. Provided the individual is without any symptoms associated with Covid-19 for more than 24 hours, has not taken any medications in the previous 24 hours, and both results of RT-PCR tests taken on Day 9 and Day 10 are negative, they may be allowed to join their respective teams.”
Padikkal was the leading run-scorer for the Royal Challengers in IPL 2020, his debut season, scoring 473 runs at an average of 31.53 and a strike rate of 124.80. Coming into this season, he had a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too, tallying 218 runs in six innings at an average of 43.60 and a strike rate of 134.56.
