Former Australian skipper, Ian Chappell reckons that teams like India will need increasingly large squads in order to cope up with “bubble fatigue” as they press ahead with extensive touring schedules amid the coronavirus pandemic. Most of teh Indian cricketers have been living bio-secure bubbles since September, initially while taking part in an Indian Premier League moved to the United Arab Emirates on health grounds.

The problems of playing cricket in the pandemic were highlighted when England had to suspend their tour to South Africa mid-way on health grounds amid concerns that their hotel bubble had been breached. Talking about the same, Chappell said, “I have never experienced anything like this, and I am not surprised some players have started to talk about bubble fatigue. We had a couple of England players who have already pulled out of the BBL for that reason.”

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Early in 2021, India will be hosting England in four Tests, five Twenty20, and three ODIs, with all of those matches set to be played in bio-secure conditions.

Elaborating the same, Ian Chappel said, “If you look at what India has got coming up, they are going to need a huge squad of players. I am sure the bubble fatigue is going to kick in so my sympathies with modern players having to do this. We are in this situation where it is going to be very fluid.”

While commentating on the Australia-India series for ABC Radio, Chappel said, “And I think all teams are going to need a big squad of players, not just because you got to isolate some but because there is going to be this mental fatigue of being stuck in a bubble.”

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Meanwhile, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin sympathized with current players but said playing international cricket amid virus restrictions was preferable to a complete suspension of the sport.