Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian team traveled to Sri Lanka for the upcoming three-match ODI and as many T20I series. While the Men in Blue touched down in Colombo and checked in at Colombo’s Taj Samudra hotel but the players were not garlanded at their arrival.

According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, this was done keeping the Covid-19 protocols in mind. The hotel manager said the teams will be staying in a strict bio-bubble with designated staff.

The hotel manager also revealed that it was not a regular welcome for the touring team as they entered from the back of the hotel rather than from the front and were escorted to their respective rooms.

“Leave aside the garland ceremony, we could not even glimpse at the players. The team was not escorted from the front but the players were sent in their rooms from the back,” the General Manager of the hotel was quoted as saying.

SL v IND 2021: Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian squad arrives in Sri Lanka for white-ball series

“This (pandemic) is a different war and we miss the welcoming ceremony this time. However, it is our pleasure and honor to host them.”

“Both teams - India and Sri Lanka (arriving from the UK tour on July 5) - will be in strict bio-bubble. They will be catered by the designated staff, who are also staying in the hotel. Players will have their food at certain specified places only,” he added.

The Indian players who arrived in Sri Lanka on 28 June will have to stay under strict quarantine from June 29th to July 1st. After which the players' support staff will then participate in phased-out training between July 2 and July 4, after which the full-team training will commence from July 5th.

The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka is slated to begin from July 13 with all 6 matches to be played at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

(With Deccan Chronicle inputs)