IND v SA T20I: Aiden Markram ruled out of the first T20I; tests positive for Covid-19

Aiden Markram, South African all-rounder, has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the first T20I against India on Thursday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. In the India vs. South Africa series, there is no bio-bubble, thus the players are put to the test on a regular basis. During the toss, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma announced the news. In place of Markram, Tristan Stubbs made his international debut.

“Aiden was not available for selection as he tested positive for Covid, Stubbs comes in and it is a debut for him. We have two all-rounders; Dwaine and Parnell also come into the fold. It is an important series as we haven’t been together as a group since the World Cup, it is a preparation for the World Cup coming up in Australia. For us it is about to build momentum and build confidence going ahead,” Bavuma said during the toss.

Aiden Markram’s promotion to the middle order of the South African squad prompted him to strengthen his spin defence, strike rate, and white-ball game. Only six hitters in the last year – Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, and Harry Brook – have scored more runs than Markram while averaging over 35 and having a strike rate of over 135, placing Markram in top big-hitting company.