Rahul Dravid gets contracted with COVID-19 ahead of the Indian team's departure to the UAE for the Asia Cup, which reminds to this time last year, when fifth Test which was originally scheduled to start at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on September 10, had to be postponed in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak within the India squad.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri became infected with Covid-19 during the fourth Test, becoming the first case in the Indian camp. However, it was only until team physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar returned a positive result that matters became serious, threatening the fifth Test. Several Indian players, notably Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma, had close relationships with Parmar. Despite the fact that all players had returned negative results, the results of the second round of testing were awaited, and after much consideration, the BCCI and the ECB agreed to cancel the Manchester Test.
"When I had Covid last year, I could have gone into the dressing room in 6-7 days. And I promise you if I had gone to the dressing room in 6-7 days, India would have played that Test match at Old Trafford and won it," Shastri said in a press conference organised by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2022.
The Test was finally played last month at Birmingham's Edgbaston Cricket Ground, which England won and levelled the series at 2-2. Between then and now, a lot had changed. Shastri has resigned as India's coach, as has Virat Kohli from his post as captain. Due to Covid, India skipper Rohit Sharma had to miss the Test, and Jasprit Bumrah led the squad in his absence.