Cricketers of the Indian men’s and women’s teams landed in the UK on Thursday and will now undergo hard quarantine before being allowed to train outdoors for the ICC World Test Championship final starting later this month. India men’s will first take on New Zealand in the WTC Final on June 18-22 and then will face England in a five-match series starting in the first week of August.
India women’s cricket team will face England in a one-off Test followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.
Cricketers Of The Indian Men And Women Teams Won’t Be Able To Meet Each Other For The First 3 Days
During their long flight from Mumbai, the cricketers passed time watching movies or sleeping. However, for the first three days in Southampton, the cricketers won’t be able to meet each other.
“It has been wonderful. The first two hours watched a movie and then slept for six hours. Now having breakfast. Planning to get into quarantine after reaching. As of now, we are told we cannot meet each other for three days,” India spinner Axar Patel said in a BCCI video.
The players are travelling with their families despite the coronavirus pandemic after BCCI secured permission from the UK government. India Test mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara has also been accompanied by his daughter who he said enjoyed a good sleep during the flight time.
Virat Kohli Doesn’t Feel New Zealand Will Have An Undue Advantage In The WTC Final Since They Are Currently Playing Against England
The entire contingent was tested at the Hampshire Bowl and will have to undergo regular tests before being allowed to resume normal activities gradually. However, the cricketers will not be permitted to leave the bio-bubble during the entirety of the tour.
During a pre-departure press conference, India captain Virat Kohli had shrugged the notion that because New Zealand is already in England and playing the hosts in a two-Test series, they will have an advantage.
“It’s not the first time we are playing in England. (With) the hunger and desire to be there… We have no problems with having just four practice sessions going into the final,” Virat Kohli had said.
The members of India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams landed in England on Thursday morning. They had boarded the chartered flight on Wednesday evening (June 2).
The men’s team itinerary includes an ICC event and five Test matches. They will kick off the tour with the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand, which will be played from June 18 to 22 in Southampton. Following the fixture, the cricketers will have a 40-day break as the five-match Tests series kicks off on August 4. The men’s team will play a couple of intrasquad matches before the England series.
The women’s team is scheduled to play a one-off Test match, 3 ODIs, and as many T20Is against England. The series will kick off with the red-ball fixture on June 16. The three ODIs will be played on June 27, 30, and July 3. The T20I fixtures will take place on July 9, 11, and 15.
India men are travelling with an extended 25-member squad including 5 standby players for the WTC final and subsequent series against England keeping the COVID-19 pandemic in mind.