After the postponement of IPL 2021, the focus now shifts to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, slated to be played between India and New Zealand in Southampton from June 18-22.
See Also: BCCI announces Team India squad for WTC final; England Test series
According to a report published in ANI, Team India's preparation for the historic game will commence on May 25 when they enter the bio-bubble created for them in the homeland itself.
The eight-day bubble in India will be followed by another 10-day isolation in the UK before Virat Kohli and company take on New Zealand.
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official explained the reason behind breaking the quarantine period into two parts, stating that it will allow the players to start training after landing in UK on June 2.
"You can expect the boys to come into the bubble on May 25 as it will be an eight-day quarantine period which will not just involve testing against COVID-19, but also there will not be any movement as the boys prepare for the UK schedule," the official said.
"Once in UK on June 2, the boys will go for another 10-day quarantine. But this time the cricketers can train as they are moving from the bubble in India to the bubble in England in a charter plane. A bubble to bubble move lets them train even though there will be continuous testing at all times and no further movement," he elaborated.
Following the WTC final, India will play five Tests against England from August 4 to September 14.
Considering the fact that Indian team will spend more than three months in UK, the players will be allowed to travel with their families.
"Not just the duration of the tour, the COVID-19 restrictions also mean you cannot move around the place. There will be more than a month's gap between the Test Championship final and the opening Test against England in Trent Bridge from August 4. The players will have their families travelling with them," the official said.
Commenting on the vaccination process, the official said: "The Indian government has opened vaccination for every person above 18 so the players can take their first dose."
"But the second dose is the question here and while the BCCI is looking at working closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board to ensure players can get a second dose in the UK, if that is not approved by the UK government, we will have the vaccine taken from India for the second dose. Let's see how that works out in the coming days."
(With ANI inputs)
