Ravichandran Ashwin tests positive for Covid-19, England departure delayed

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has missed the plane to England after he tested positive for COVID-19. He did not travel with the rest of the Test players who left for England on June 16, and he is currently in quarantine, whereas India's Test team have started their training in Leicestershire County Ground.

Team India will play a 4-day practice match from June 24 and will square off against England in the rescheduled 5th Test from July 1 in Edgbaston, Birmingham

Meanwhile, R Ashwin will travel to England after finishing all necessary protocols, according to a Press Trust of India report. While most of the Test specialists left for England from Mumbai on June 16, captain Rohit Sharma joined his teammates in England a day later. 

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, who were part of the South Africa T20I series at home, left for England on Monday, June 19, after their five-match T20I series that ended in a draw as the final was washed out due to rain on Sunday.

However, Ashwin is likely to miss the 4-day practice match against Leicestershire from Friday, but he is expected to be available for the rescheduled 5th Test, which is going to be a thrilling one, considering England's current form.

"Ashwin hasn't travelled with the squad to the UK as he tested positive for Covid-19 before departure," a BCCI source said. "But we are hopeful that he will recover well in time before the Test match starts on July 1. However, he might miss the practice game against Leicestershire."

R Ashwin, who played in the Indian Premier League 2022 final for Rajasthan Royals last month, has also played TNCA Division 1 league cricket in Chennai after coming out of the IPL bio-bubble. But, the veteran did not play a single match on their tour of England last year despite travelling with the team as well.