Marsh tests positive for COVID-19, admitted to hospital

Delhi Capitals have been hit by a Covid outbreak scare and have cancelled today's scheduled travel to Pune ahead of their next IPL 2022 game. The squad will remain quarantined in the rooms with door-to-door Covid-19 tests scheduled for today and tomorrow.

Late on Monday (April 18) evening, it emerged that among the list of positive cases in the Delhi camp included Mitchell Marsh. The Australia all-rounder has been in isolation since a positive result showed in the Rapid Antigen test in the morning. In the evening, the RT-PCR test done by the BCCI returned positive too. DC later issued a statement saying the all-rounder was admitted to a hospital. A few support staff members are also in the positive list but their names have not been revealed.

"Delhi Capitals all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has tested positive for COVID-19, following which he has been admitted to a hospital. The Delhi Capitals medical team is closely monitoring Marsh's condition," DC said in a statement.

"A few more members from the Delhi Capitals bio-bubble, including support staff members, have returned positive tests as well. Though they are all asymptomatic, their condition is being monitored closely by the franchise. All remaining members of the bubble are currently in isolation in their respective rooms, and will be tested regularly," added the statement.

The team's physio Patrick Farhart had earlier been isolated after testing positive.

Amid the latest development there have been speculation about the possible rescheduling of their next match, against Punjab Kings on Wednesday (April 20). However, sources have said that the schedule remains unchanged. "We have not heard of any change in the programme and the situation in the Delhi camp is manageable right now," said multiple sources.

Delhi Capitals are to play two back-to-back games in Pune - against Punjab Kings on April 20 and Rajasthan Royals on April 22.

Provisions have been made in the IPL playing conditions to accommodate any unexpected Covid issues. In the Operational rules, shared with the teams, BCCI has mentioned that efforts will be made to reschedule a game in the event of a team not being in a position to field 12 players. If those attempts fail, the matter will be referred to a technical committee.

Relevant Playing Conditions:

Breach: "Unable to field a team for any match due to having less than 12 Players available - 11 in the playing XI (of which at least 7 must be Indian) plus 1 substitute fielder."

Franchise: "BCCI, at its discretion, will attempt to reschedule the match for later in the season. If this is not possible, the issue will be referred to the IPL Technical Committee. The decision of the IPL Technical Committee will be final and binding."

*Updated at 22:08 IST on April 18 with the information on Mitchell Marsh and DC's statement