Cricket News

Virat Kohli infected with Covid 19 just before Ind vs Eng 5th Test

The excitement for India’s fifth Test against England is increasing with every day passing. India will be playing the rescheduled fifth Test of the series against England starting 1^st July 2022. India are leading the series 2-1 and are on the brink of winning a Test series in England for the first time in 15 years.

As India finds itself one step away from making history, the team has received another big blow just before the start of the Test. In a big blow to the team, according to the Times of India, the former Indian Captain Virat Kohli tested positive for Covid-19 after the team landed in England. Ravichandran Ashwin had already tested positive for Covid-19 and had remained in India.

“Yes, Virat Kohli was also affected by Covid after coming back from his Maldives vacation,“ a source told TOI. However, Virat has now recovered and might be available ahead of the Test match.

“This means that India’s tour game against Leicestershire on June 24 will not be as concentrated as coach Rahul Dravid had hoped, because medical advice is to avoid overloading the players after they have suffered Covid-19. There could be more Covid cases on the team,” the source revealed.

Virat has been going through a slump in his form, but is still an integral part of the Indian batting line-up. Despite being out of form, Kohli scored some crucial knocks in the series last year. He accumulated 218 runs with an average of 31.14 in 7 innings. The last Test of the series will also feature one of the greatest battles in Test Cricket in recent times between veteran England seamer James Anderson and Kohli for probably the last time ever. Anderson managed to finally dismiss Kohli for the first time after 2014 last year and picked his wicket twice.

After the Test, the two teams will battle in a three-match T20 and ODI series. The first T20I will be held on July 7. The second and third T20Is are scheduled for June 9 and 10, respectively. The ODI series between India and England will consist of three games. The three one-day internationals will be played on July 12, 14, and 17, respectively.