After winning the Asia Cup in the UAE, the Indian team had flown to the Caribbean via Amsterdam. A support staff member, who is fine now, had tested positive during the hard quarantine upon arrival in Guyana after catching the infection in transit and it is believed the players contracted the virus from him.
India Under-19 skipper Yash Dhull, his deputy Sheikh Rasheed and four of their teammates tested positive for COVID-19, forcing them out of the Group B World Cup game against Ireland, in Tarouba, Trinidad, on Wednesday.
Put in to bat at the Providence stadium, India rode on skipper Yash Dhull's responsible 82 to post a fighting 232 all out and then bundled out the opposition for 187, with left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal (5/28) and pacer Raj Bawa (4/47) doing bulk of the damage.
To progress from U-19 to first-class level, we need to put in double effort: India U19 captain Dhull
Skipper Yash Dhull was all praise for his boys after India romped into the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup, saying the team stuck together to tide over a tumultuous phase following multiple COVID positive cases in the squad.
India will face the winners between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who play in the last group league encounter.
COVID-hit India will be bolstered by the return of key players when the four-time champions meet holders Bangladesh in the third quarter-final of the Under-19 World Cup in Osbourn, Antigua on Saturday.
Five India players who were infected with COVID-19, including skipper Yash Dhull, have recovered and are available for the Under-19 World Cup quarter-final against Bangladesh.
A round-up of Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Wednesday.
India look on course for a record-extending fifth title given the depth of talent and form but standing in the way is a driven English team, chasing its own piece of history in what promises to be an enthralling final.
With all their top players recovering from COVID-19, a confident India will take on Australia in a blockbuster semi-final of the Under-19 World Cup in Coolidge, Antigua, on Wednesday.
For MP, Saransh Jain, Kumar Kartikeya and Anubhav Agarwal also took two wickets apiece. MP got seven points from the win. The outright-winning team gets six points while a victory of an innings or 10-wickets fetches seven points.
A round-up of results from the Ranji Trophy matches played on Sunday.