England is all set to travel to India for a five-match Test series, starting with the first Test on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
This Test series between India and England is expected to be thrilling, especially with the growing popularity of 'Bazball', the touring team’s famous aggressive approach.
Well, as part of England’s off-field preparations, it is being said that the Ben Stokes-led England team plans to bring along Omar Meziane, the chef from Manchester United, to India.
Notably, Meziane had previously traveled with the England team to Pakistan in December 2022, and his presence helped them to record a whitewash against the hosts.
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The Telegraph stated: “England will take their own chef on tour to India later this month to try and avoid players falling ill during the seven-week trip. The chef will join the squad in Hyderabad before the first Test on January 25 in an attempt to keep on top of the players’ nutrition.”
The report added, “England insist it has nothing to do with not trusting hotels to provide clean facilities and is instead about ensuring players, especially those who refuse to eat spicy food, are eating nutritious meals rather than filling up on energy bars and pizzas.”
Meanwhile, after the news broke out, former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra took a sly dig at the England team and even suggested the players bring their own chefs for the upcoming IPL 2024.
Chopra wrote on X: “Good idea. ???? I’m sure that majority of English players must be bringing in their chefs for the IPL too….year after year. AS IF ????”
Virender Sehwag too chirped on the same, as he wrote on X, “Yeh zaroorat Cook ke jaane ke baad padhi. IPL mein nahi padegi.”
Notably, England won their last Test series in India back in 2012. But, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the England team is now optimistic about achieving improved results this time around, as the duo have not yet lost a Test series.
(With The Telegraph Inputs)
