IPL worries grow as match postponed after two players test positive for Covid

The biosecure bubble around the Indian Premier League has burst when two players and a top coach tested positive for Covid-19. This raises more concerns about the competition, which is taking place this year amid the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis.

The match between Royal Challenges Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday was called off after two KKR players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested positive for the virus. Covid is still spreading throughout India, with over 368,000 new cases reported on Sunday.

Since the competition started this year, the two bowlers have been the first to report positive tests, and participants have been placed in guarded areas. Reports that bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and chief executive Kasi Viswanathan of the Chennai Super Kings had also tested positive for the virus soon followed.

On Monday night, Chakravarthy and Warrier were keeping their distance from their teammates as they awaited the outcome of more testing. The remaining KKR players will now undergo testing every day in the hopes that the squad will be able to face the Delhi Capitals on Saturday, which is their next scheduled match.