Bowling coach Bharat Arun, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and standby player Abhimanyu Easwaran on Saturday (July 24) joined the rest of the Indian squad in Durham after serving the mandatory quarantine period.

Arun, Saha and Easwaran had to undergo 10 days of isolation as per UK Health protocols as they were deemed close contacts of throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani, who had tested positive for COVID-19.

While everyone in the Indian camp heaved a sigh of relief after the trio was back in the team bubble, head coach Ravi Shastri vented out his frustration at 10-day isolation rules for anyone who comes in contact of a COVID-19 positive person.

Taking to Twitter, Shastri posted a picture with Arun and captioned it as: “My right hand back in the house. Looking fitter and stronger after being in isolation for 10 days even though testing negative all the way. Bloody frustrating these isolation rules. 2 jabs of vaccine has to be trusted.”

During the three-week break after the WTC final, young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant had also contracted COVID-19.

On Thursday (July 22), Pant joined the Indian contingent in Durham after recovering from the deadly virus. He had tested positive for the novel Coronavirus on July 8 and was kept in isolation while being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team.

The five-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.