ICC WTC Final 2021: Indian Cricketers Not Allowed To Mingle During Three-Day Hard Quarantine In Southampton, Reveals Axar Patel

Indian team- both men and women- reached Southampton on June 3, 2021, and checked into the Hilton Ageas Bowl Hotel, adjoining the ground in Southampton. The players posted lots of snaps with each other from their rooms and shared the views that they got of the ground from the balcony as well.

The Indian contingent will be allowed to practice outdoors after three days of hard quarantine, as the men’s team prepares for the final of the ICC World Test Championship, which they will play against the New Zealand team from June 18-22, revealed spinner Axar Patel. India is also scheduled to take on England in a series of five Test matches after the WTC final ends.

India women’s cricket team will face England in a one-off Test followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.

As Of Now We Are Told We Cannot Meet Each Other For Three Days: Axar Patel

The players had a long flight from Mumbai to London and then moved to Southampton to undergo three more days of hard quarantine and Axar Patel is one of those players who will be spending three days with himself in a hotel room.

During their long flight from Mumbai, the players passed time watching movies or sleeping. However, for the first three days in Southampton, they won’t be able to meet each other.

“It has been wonderful. First two hours watched a movie, and then slept for six hours. Now having breakfast. Planning to get into quarantine after reaching. As of now we are told we cannot meet each other for three days,” India spinner Axar Patel said in a BCCI video.

The players are traveling to the 3-month long UK tour with their families as after the WTC final ends, there will be a 42-day gap before the England Test series begins. The entire contingent was tested at the Hampshire Bowl and will have to undergo regular tests before being allowed to resume normal activities in a gradual fashion. However, they will not be permitted to leave the bio-bubble during the entirety of the tour.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is playing the first Test of the two-match series against England, at Lord’s and posted 378 in the first innings thanks to Devon Conway’s 200 on his Test debut.

Also Read: I Couldn’t Dare To Ask Him Because We All Were Still Grieving: Ruturaj Gaikwad On MS Dhoni’s India Retirement