Team India qualified for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) after defeating England 3-1 in the recently-concluded Test series at home. India won the final fourth Test by an innings and 25 runs to confirm their berth in the WTC final which will be played in England in June later this year. The final was scheduled to be played at the Lord’s Cricket Ground but is likely to be moved out.
As per a report in the Times of India, the Ageas Bowl in Southampton could host the summit clash between India and New Zealand. Southampton is the preferred venue as it has the Hilton Hotel within the stadium premises. The Indian team will be leaving for England after the conclusion of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is all set to kick-off from April 09 with the final on May 30.
As per TOI, the Indian team will have to undergo hard quarantine in the UK ahead of the WTC final. The quarantine rules will be similar to that of Australia during India’s tour Down Under last year. The players will be asked to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine period where they will be in strict isolation for the first 5-6 days before being allowed to train in quarantine.
“It’ll mostly be on the lines of the Australia tour where the initial three or five days will be in strict isolation, after which teams will be allowed to train while in quarantine,” those in the know-how of things told TOI.
The Indian team has reportedly agreed to the quarantine rules and the Indian players will be staying back in England to acclimatise and prepare for the Test series against the hosts after the World Test Championship final. In case the Asia Cup 2021 is conducted in June later this year, India is likely to field a second-string side in the competition.
“BCCI has taken the call not to ask the players to return to India after the WTC final. The idea is to stay there and acclimatise to the conditions before the Tests begin,” sources were quoted by Times of India.
