Delhi Capitals and India all-rounder Axar Patel has rejoined the franchise after recovering from COVID-19. The left-handed spinner had been tested positive earlier. He had checked into the team hotel on March 28 with a negative report but returned with a positive test on April 3.
The DC franchise posted a video on social media and gave the confirmation. “Smiles and hugs all around as Bapu returned to the DC camp,” the Delhi Capitals posted with a video of Axar meeting his teammates.
“Aadmi dekh ke hi toh mujhe maza aa raha hai (I’m getting sheer joy just by seeing people),” Patel said in the video.
Apart from Patel, Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nitish Rana and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Devdutt Padikkal had also tested positive earlier. But the two batsmen later recovered and joined the team.
Capitals had roped in Mumbai’s Shams Mulani in place of Axar as IPL’s first short term COVID-19 replacement.
DC defeated Mumbai Indians in their last outing. Chasing 138 in 20 overs, Delhi rode on Shikhar Dhawan and Steve Smith’s steady batting performance to go over the line by 6 wickets sparing five balls during the course.
Earlier, Amit Mishra rattled MI with a four-wicket haul restricting them to 137/9 in 20 overs.
The Rishabh Pant-led side will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Sunday.