The Indian team will be undergoing a three-day quarantine from Sunday, December 12 before flying out to South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs.
The Indian contingent for the upcoming tour of South Africa will be put through a quarantine period of three days in Mumbai before they take off for Johannesburg. India are scheduled to play a three-match Test series, followed by a three-match ODI series in South Africa, starting December 26.
According to reports, the players are instructed to check into a five-star hotel near the Mumbai International Airport by December 12. After completing the bio-security protocols, the squad will fly out to Johannesburg on December 16 by a charter flight.
Only the players who are part of the Test squad will travel to South Africa at this point, with the white ball specialists joining later. India ‘A’ squad that toured South Africa for three four-day matches just returned from Bloemfontein except Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Hanuma Vihari, Arzan Nagwaswalla and the trainer Vivek Ramakrishna. Vihari will be a part of the Test squad while the other three players have been asked to stay back as reserves.
South Africa is grappling with the new deadly Covid-19 variant Omicron, which has resulted in a spike in positive cases and hospitalizations. However, India ‘A’ tour concluding without any incidents has reassured the BCCI and members of the touring party of a safe stay in South Africa. The CSA has also promised to implement strict bio-security protocols to make sure the series goes ahead safely.
Earlier, a few players of the Test squad attended a mini camp at the Bandra Kurla Complex under the watchful eye of India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane underwent a camp organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
The Indian Test team led by Virat Kohli will take on the hosts in the first of the three Tests at Centurion from December 26. The next two Tests will be hosted at Wanderers in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town.
