IPL 2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad ropes in Umran Malik as COVID replacement for T Natarajan

Sunerisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan had tested COVID positive a couple of days back and is in isolation. Meanwhile, the franchise has roped in uncapped Umran Malik as his short-term replacement.

Pacer T Natarajan gave the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) a scare after testing COVID positive just hours before Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) IPL 2021 game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday. Nonetheless, since the other players of SRH had tested negative, the game against DC went ahead as scheduled, where the former was at the receiving end.

Natarajan, along with his six close contacts, continues to remain in isolation, as he will be monitored for ten days while he was asymptomatic upon testing positive. Meanwhile, as per the IPL protocols, the franchise has roped in a short-term COVID replacement for the player in the form of Jammu & Kashmir medium-pacer Umran Malik.

"Umran Malik, a fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir, who was with the #Risers as a net bowler, has been added to the squad as a short-term COVID replacement for T Natarajan," said SRH via its social media announcement.

Malik has played just a Twenty20 game so far against Railways earlier this year during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he claimed three wickets at an economy of 6.00. He has also played a List-A game against Bengal in February during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, claiming a wicket at 9.80. He has been impressive in the nets for SRH, resulting in him earning a short-term contract with the franchise.