India set to play two intra squad games in Durham before England Test series

Kohli

Indian team under the leadership of skipper Virat Kohli has faced huge scrutiny after losing the inaugural World Test Championship final against New Zealand on 23rd June 2021.

Virat Kohli

India were expected to win final against Kiwis especially after the performance they gave in Australia where they chased 328 runs on the last to clinch Border- Gavaskar trophy twice on Australian soil.

The loss has irked Indian fans where some of the fans went to social media to declare India as the new chokers of World cricket as the team has failed to win major ICC trophies despite reaching semifinal and final from 2014 onwards. The last title that they clinch was in year 2013 where they won Champions trophy by beating England in the final under the leadership of captain cool Ms Dhoni..

Recently in a post match conference a question was posed to Kohli regarding preparation for upcoming England tour to which later said “We have asked for two first class games before England Test series but we have been denied that I don’t know what’s the reason behind that”.

Now it is learnt that the national side will be playing two intra squad games in 15 days time in Durham before leaving for Nottingham.

“The itinerary was made keeping COVID protocols in place. It is difficult to get county teams in the same bubble as the Indian team. The ECB is very careful about safety of players. The Indian team bubble will be made in Durham” a BCCI source confirmed to Times of India.

It is understandable why India is denied for two first class games as allowing county players to live in the same bubble where Indian team is staying at the moment might increase the cases of COVID-19.