Indian team will play a three-day practice match against Select County XI in Durham from July 20.
For the warm-up fixture, starting July 20, Indian cricketers reached Durham on Friday (July 16) and hit the ground running straightaway.
Taking to Twitter, BCCI shared a couple of pictures, showing Virat Kohli and his men doing some light jogging on the field and Indian cricket team’s welcome in Durham.
After the World Test Championship (WTC) final last month, the Indian contingent was given a 20-day respite from the bio-bubble life.
During the break, however, wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant and training assistant/net bowler Dayanand Garani contracted COVID-19. The duo hasn’t travelled with the rest of the squad to Durham.
India will be without back-up wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha as well during the three-day practice match in Durham, as the latter has been kept in isolation after being identified as a close contact of the training assistant. Bowling coach Bharat Arun and reserve opener Abhimanyu Easwaran will also remain in isolation for 10 days.
The five-match Test series between India and England is slated to get underway on August 4 at Trent Bridge and the tourists will hope to put behind their COVID-19 troubles for the series, which will be the part of second WTC cycle.