India's travails in a controlled bio-secure environment won't last their entire stay in the UK. Cricbuzz understands that the India team will be free from bio-bubble restrictions once the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, an ICC event, wraps up.
The five Tests that follow against hosts England will be played in a “safe living environment” but not a bio-bubble — as will be the case for the upcoming Test series between England and New Zealand too.
“The bubble will be go (after WTC final) and we will be free of the restrictions,” a member of the Indian team, that is leaving for Southampton on Thursday morning, told Cricbuzz. “There is no need for a bubble in England. If required, we will enter a bubble before the Test series starts (on August 4).”
However, there's a possibility that India may still have to go inside a bio-bubble at some point during the Test series, despite no such requirement by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is understood to be planning for bubble-to-bubble transfer for its players from the UK to the UAE, where the unfinished matches of IPL 2021 will be played.
Family members get the nod to travel to UK
Meanwhile, an Indian team member has confirmed to Cricbuzz that the family members of the players and support staff have got the visas to travel to the UK. The visa applications were made only a couple of days ago and there was a doubt if the approval would come. But on Tuesday (June 1), the clearance for them was given by the UK government. The players, coaches and their families will set sail on June 3.