IND vs WI: Team India begin training in Ahmedabad after completing mandatory isolation

Team India’s training for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies is underway amid multiple COVID-19 cases in the team. On Wednesday (February 2), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that three Indian players Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shreyas Iyer alongside stand-by Navdeep Saini have returned with positive results, subsequently undergoing isolation.

Besides these names, all players returned with negative tests and they took part in the training session on Thursday. Notably, the opening ODI of the three-match series will be played at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 6. With multiple first-choice players being unavailable, it would be interesting to see how India’s playing XI would look like.

Ishan Kishan has been added to the ODI squad

While Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad, he will only be available on the match day as he’s currently serving a mandatory three-day quarantine period. “Today is a light session where the players have been accompanied by trainers,” a veteran official, in know of things, was quoted as saying by India Today. It has also been learnt that team management has also added Ishan Kishan to the ODI squad.

Meanwhile, the Indian team assembled in Ahmedabad on January 31 and subsequently underwent a three-day isolation period post their break from the South Africa series. Besides players, three staff members also contracted the virus. Fielding coach T Dilip, security liaison officer B Lokesh and masseur Rajeev Kumar are the others returning with positive results.

“Every member was also asked to undergo an RT-PCR test at home before embarking on their journey to Ahmedabad and the travel was undertaken only after testing negative,” BCCI stated in an official statement.

It must be noted that the opening ODI will mark India’s 1000th appearance in the format. It will also be Rohit Sharma’s maiden assignment as full-time ODI captain and many eyes would be on him. In normal circumstances, the Men in Blue would definitely have been the favourites. However, West Indies will back themselves to upset the depleted team. Notably, Kieron Pollard’s men are coming off a 3-2 win in a T20 series against England.