Watch: Team India's 'Strength And Mobility Session' In Durham Ahead Of Warm-Up Match

Team India had reached Durham where they will camp till the first of the five-Test match series against England, starting August 4 at Trent Bridge.

The Virat Kohli-led outfit also involved themselves in an intense ‘strength and mobility session’ ahead of their first warm-up match against a County Select XI in Chester-le-Street from July 20th.

The BCCI on Saturday uploaded a video where all the players – barring the few who are in quarantine – were seen sweating it out in the ground. They also had plenty of fun while playing football, the skipper, in particular, enjoyed himself thoroughly during the activity.

The group also celebrated the birthday of fielding coach R Sridhar.

Watch Team India’s training session’s clip:

Strength and mobility session for #TeamIndia as we regroup in Durham with preparations underway for the #ENGvIND Test series ? ?

P.S. Snippets from @coach_rsridhar's birthday celebrations ? ? pic.twitter.com/bQX17ZUF1u

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 17, 2021

Covid-19 hits Team India in England

As many as 5 members of the Indian contingent in England are in quarantine. First Rishabh Pant tested positive for the covid-19 on July 8 and has been in isolation since. He was not staying at the team hotel so he is unlikely to have affected any other India players, and, according to a BCCI release, is “on his way to recovery”. Pant will be allowed to join the rest of the India squad after returning two negative RT-PCR tests.

After that, training assistant Dayanand Garani returned a positive Covid-19 test on July 14. Three other people – bowling coach Bharat Arun, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and reserve opener Abhimanyu Easwaran – were placed in a 10-day quarantine as they were in close contact with Garani.

BCCCI President Sourav Ganguly then has come out in defence of Rishabh Pant. Ganguly said that it isn’t possible for players to keep their masks on all the time, especially when the UK government themselves have lifted the strict covid-19 protocols.

Pant had gone to watch a Euro 2020 football game at a packed Wembley Stadium. He clicked few pictures with his friends and posted them on social media.

“We have seen Euro Championship and Wimbledon in England. Rules have changed (with crowd being allowed inside venues). They were on leave and it’s physically impossible to wear mask all the time,” Ganguly told News18.com.

Also Read: ‘It’s A Process Of Over 5 Years That’s Bearing Dividends’: MSK Prasad On India Fielding Two Teams Concurrently