Team India to enter bio-bubble on May 19 in Mumbai ahead of England tour

Ahead of the much-awaited England tour, where Team India will not only play the final of the ICC World Test Championship but also a five-match Test series against England, the Indian players have been asked to enter the bio-secure bubble on May 19 in Mumbai.

The Indian players, part of the three-and-a-half-month-long tour to the UK, have been asked to regroup in Mumbai on May 19 and enter a 10-day quarantine period.

“Yes, those travelling to England are entering the bio-bubble on May 19 after regrouping in Mumbai. After completing the hard quarantine (confined to hotel rooms) in Mumbai, the team will depart for the UK on June 2,” a source close to the Indian team told WION.

The BCCI wanted to complete a quarantine period to avoid any positive COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. The Indian board is also in talks with the England Cricket Board (ECB) to reduce the 10-day soft quarantine (training allowed) as it will be a bubble-to-bubble movement. However, it remains to be seen whether there will be any concession in this regard for the Indian contingent.

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Earlier, the BCCI had announced a 24-member squad including four standby players for the long season in the UK, which is scheduled to conclude on September 14 following the grueling five-match Test series against Joe Root-led England.

Out of those 24, KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha would have to undergo a fitness test while Prasidh Krishna, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back, will have to return negative to be eligible to travel.

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Whereas the squad for the Indian women's team is likely to be announced on Friday. India women play three WODIs as many T20Is and one-off Test against England starting June 16.

India Squad for WTC final vs New Zealand, and five-match Test Series vs England

India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla