The Indian cricket team led by Virat Kohli began their first outdoor training session on Saturday in Sydney after the entire team tested negative for Covid-19, the PTI news agency reported. The Indian team had started their journey from Dubai one day after the IPL 2020 final. They landed in Australia on Saturday and will remain in quarantine for 14 days. However, Cricket Australia has arranged for outdoor training.
The BCCI posted photos of the outdoor workout and a gym session on its Twitter account.
The likes of Hardik Pandya, Prithvi Shaw, Kuldeep Yadav, Hanuma Vihari and Mohammed Siraj were seen doing light training at Blacktown International Sports Park within Sydney Olympic Park.
Spinner Kudeep Yadav, pacemaker Umesh Yadav, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, and test hitting prop Cheteshwar Pujara were seen warming up.
After the outdoor training, the Indian cricketers spent a bit in the gym. Pacers Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chakur and T Natarajan, who were recruited to the T20I team in place of Varun Chakravarthy, were seen sweating inside the gym.
The three squads (ODI, T20I and Test) have traveled together for the first time due to the strict biosecurity protocol established by the hosts.
India is scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20s and a four-round series on the tour, starting with ODI from Nov. 27. The three ODIs, the next two, on November 29 and December 2, will be played in Sydney.
The ODIs will be followed by three T20Is starting December 4.
The test series will begin with a day and night game in Adelaide starting December 17, followed by the Boxing Day test match in Melbourne. Patron Virat Kohli will miss the last three games as he will be in paternity during that time. Vice Captain Ajinkya Rahane is likely to lead the team in Kohli’s absence.
(With PTI inputs)
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