On Thursday, the Indian players were tested negative in their first round of RT-PCR tests and will be undergoing two more rounds before they commence their training from February 2 for the upcoming Test series against England. The four-match series starts in Chennai on February 5. The entire Indian contingent has already arrived in the city and both the teams are staying at the Leela Palace hotel.

Informing the same to PTI, a senior BCCI official said, “The SOP is same as the IPL bio-bubble during the hard quarantine period. We have had one RT-PCR test done already and we would be doing two more before being cleared to train. Right now, the players will have to be confined to their rooms.”

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The players will be allowed to do some physical exercise in their rooms under the supervision of the two strength and conditioning experts, Nick Webb and Soham Desai. In a welcome move, the BCCI has allowed the players to be accompanied by their families as it “could be extremely lonely” during the hard quarantine phase.

India’s deputy captain, Ajinkya Rahane, senior opener Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, all-rounder Hardik Pandya have all been joined by their respective families as they have already posted pictures with their families on their official social media handles.

Elaborating on the same, one of the sources of PTI said, “The players have all come back after a gruelling tour. Hard quarantine can be extremely difficult and it would only help their well being that wives and children are around which would help them remain in a good head space.”

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India and England will be locking horns with each other for four Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is. The first two games of the 4-Test series will be played in Chennai before the cricketers move to Ahmedabad for the last couple of Tests.