Indian men and women’s squad commence hard quarantine before the England tour

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, his white-ball deputy Rohit Sharma and head coach Ravi Shastri entered the bio-bubble of the England-bound group on Tuesday as it began its eight-day strict quarantine along with the women’s team.

The Indian women’s squad also began its eight-day enforced quarantine in the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai, which is close to the international airport. The teams are scheduled to leave on June 2 if all of the players and non-players return three negative RT-PCR findings.

The men’s squad will first face New Zealand in the World Test Championship final on June 18, followed by a complete series against England. Beginning June 16, the women will face the hosts in one Test, three ODIs, and as many T20 Internationals.

First stop, Mumbai 📍#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Dieotl3GrF

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 19, 2021

“Wriddhiman and Prasidh Krishna returned to the bubble two days ago after fully healing from COVID-19. Mumbaikars like as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and coach Ravi Shastri have all entered the bubble,” a BCCI source stated.

It has been learned that authorization for letting the players’ family is still pending, but the BCCI is optimistic that it will be completed shortly. “We cannot have our athletes separated from their families for three months, let alone in a bubble. That is never good for one’s mental health,” according to the insider.

The length of the quarantine, once the side is in England, is still being negotiated, and the hard quarantine (limited to hotel rooms) might be reduced. No change in the five-Test itinerary can happen after the England Cricket Board, during informal discussions, intimated to BCCI that a shift of dates is not possible.