Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cricket is being played in a bio-secure bubble with everybody associated with the series and tournament undergoing several checks for the virus.
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Players and support staff are only shuffling between their team hotels and the cricket stadiums for outdoor practice sessions. Nobody is allowed to break the bubble and travel around due to the Coronavirus threat.
No wonder, players are finding it mentally challenging and now India skipper Virat Kohli has shared his two cents on it.
According to Kohli, the "repetitive" nature of being in a bio-bubble can take a mental toll on cricketers, and length of tours should be considered accordingly.
"It's repetitive, it's not as tough when the group of guys is amazing, which we have," Kohli told his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore's Youtube channel reflecting on his time in the IPL's bio-secure environment.
"Everyone part of that bio-bubble is really nice, the vibe has been so good. That's precisely why we've enjoyed playing together, just enjoyed our time in the bubble as well.
"But it does get difficult at times because it is repetitive."
Most of the active Indian cricketers have been in UAE for the IPL 2020 since August. India’s upcoming tour of Australia will be held from November 27 to January 19, 2021, leaving the players on the road for more than four months.
Kohli said the scheduling has to take into consideration the mental fatigue a bio-bubble can cause to the players.
"These things will have to be considered. Like what length of the tournament or series one is going to play and what impact it will have on players mentally to stay in a similar environment for 80 days and not do anything different.
"Or have space to just go and see family or small things like that. These things have to be thought about seriously.
"At the end of the day, you want the players to be in the best state mentally, based on how they're feeling. Those conversations should take place regularly."
After returning from Australia, Team India are likely to take on England at home and the full series will be held in a protected environment.
(With PTI inputs)
