Ruturaj Gaikwad released from isolation After recovering from COVID-19.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, India’s opener, has recovered from Covid-19 and is out of isolation ahead of the 3rd ODI against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Friday, February 11. After arriving in Ahmedabad, Ruturaj tested positive for Covid-19, along with Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Navdeep Saini, and four other members of the Indian support crew.

While Dhawan and Iyer healed and re-joined the squad in time for the second ODI, Ruturaj remained in isolation. Ruturaj is unlikely to bat first in the third ODI, which is a dead rubber because India has already secured an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

After India won the second ODI on Wednesday, captain Rohit Sharma made it clear that his senior partner Shikhar Dhawan will return to the playing XI and begin the innings. Notably, India batted first with Ishan Kishan in the first ODI and then attempted Rishabh Pant at the top in the second.

Ruturaj warmed the bench in the home T20 series against New Zealand and did not participate in the away ODI series against South Africa. Ruturaj was not included to the T20 team and would play for his home state in the next Ranji Trophy, according to the PTI.

After the favourable Covid-19 findings were announced on February 2, India also hired Mayank Agarwal. Shah Rukh Khan of Tamil Nadu was also included to the team, although both have remained on the bench.