Gautam Gambhir tested COVID-19 positive, his Lucknow Super Giants coach experiencing'mild symptoms'

Gautam Gambhir, the former India opener and current coach of the Lucknow Super Giants side, has tested for Covid-19. Although the 40-year-old is having minor symptoms, he has requested that everyone who comes into contact with him be checked.

"After experiencing mild symptoms, I tested positive for COVID today. Requesting everyone who came into my contact to get themselves tested. #StaySafe," Gambhir said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday (January 25).

In 2018, the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper announced his retirement from international cricket. Gambhir represented India in 54 Tests, 147 One-Day Internationals, and 37 Twenty20 Internationals. Gambhir was a member of the T20 World Cup winning team in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup winning team in 2011.

Gambhir is also a BJP Member of Parliament from Delhi. For the IPL 2022 season, he will serve as team mentor for the RPSG-owned Lucknow Super Giants. He explained why the Lucknow team selected KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, and Ravi Bishnoi in the draught.

"It's a no brainer when it comes to KL Rahul. He is not only a batter but obviously a leader as well. It is a work in progress but he gives you three things- keeps wickets, he opens the batting and he is a phenomenal white ball batter. His consistency and run scoring in the last couple of years has been phenomenal when he played for Punjab and other franchises plus at the same time he gives you three things so what better than this," Gambhir told Star Sports.

"Marcus Stoinis, purely from a finisher point of view because we were not 100 per cent sure whether Ben Stokes is going to be in auction or not. So there were not too many quality all-rounders plus Marcus can bat in the middle order and probably can finish of the games as well. Ravi Bishnoi for me is one of the most exciting prospect at the moment and plus he was uncapped, he is young and he is only going to get better and at the moment we have seen what kind of skills he brings on the table because he is a complete wicket taking option and you got someone like that an Indian that also is uncapped, who can get us wickets what better than that. So I feel that these three signings are very, very exciting specially Ravi Bishnoi," he added.