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IPL 2021: KKR v RCB match postponed as players test Covid positive
MUMBAI: The IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) that was scheduled to be played on3 May has been postponed, as two KKR players have tested positive for Covid2019.
KKR’s Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, who tested Covid positive, have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad. All other team members have tested negative for Covid2019.
According to a statement issued by the BCCI, a medical team is in continuous touch with the duo to monitor their health. The medical team is also tracking the close contacts of Chakravarthy and Warrier during the last 48 hours.
“Varun and Sandeep tested positive and that made the RCB camp wary of the situation. The game is set to be postponed,” an IPL official told ANI.
However, an official confirmation from BCCI is awaited regarding the postponement of the match.
The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League, touted to be the richest T20 cricket league in the world, has already crossed the halfway mark. The tournament is being played in a bio bubble owing to the second wave of Covid infections tearing through the country. With six wins and two losses, Delhi Capitals is currently at the top of the points table, followed by Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
