The tug-of-war between the Indian Premier League 2021 and Covid-19 unfortunately seems far from over. Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Tim Seifert has tested positive, and missed his charter flight back home to New Zealand.

Seifert failed both his pre-departure RT-PCR tests, and has been kept in quarantine in Ahmedabad after experiencing moderate symptoms. He will be shifted to a private hospital in Chennai where former Australian batsman Michael Hussey was treated after testing positive.

“It's really unfortunate for Tim and we'll do everything for him that we can from this end, and hopefully he will be able to test negative and be cleared and approved for discharge as soon as he's well again. Since receiving the news, we've organised support for Tim and have also - via the players association, been in contact with his family to ensure they're kept fully informed and updated on developments,” New Zealand Cricket chief David White said in a statement.

After Seifert completes his quarantine and tests negative for Covid-19, he will be moved back to New Zealand, where he will have to be in isolation for 14 days.

Seifert, a right-handed batsman known for his aggressive approach, didn’t get a game with the Kolkata outfit this season. For New Zealand, he has played 35 T20Is and has five half-centuries to his name.

Talking about the rest of the New Zealand contingent, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, physio Tommy Simsek and fast-bowler Kylie Jamieson will be in Maldives before moving to England for the World Test Championship final versus India in June. NZ team trainer Chris Donaldson has also opted to stay with the UK-bound players in Maldives.

IPL 2021 was called off on May 4 soon after several players tested Covid positive. “We don't wish to compromise the safety of the players, the people involved, the employees, the groundsmen, the match officials, every single person involved," BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said in a statement.