India beat bio-bubble as victory brings a whiff of fresh air

Ahmedabad: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of the Indian cricket team has been in a bio-bubble for almost half a year now, locked up in hotels through the IPL, Australia tour and in the home series against England with the Indian cricket board and the team management not giving them any break as has been afforded to players from England.

Only skipper Virat Kohli got a break although that was paternity leave.

Eventually it paid off as India could feature their best side and didn't have to worry about combinations. Unlike England's controversy over Moeen Ali's departure and criticism that they aren't fielding their best side and getting stuck with combinations that saw them lose crucial phases over the last three Tests, India have had it smooth.

India coach Ravi Shastri on Saturday admitted that the bio-bubble has taken its toll.

"Six months in the bio-bubble, seeing the same faces -- the bubble will burst. It's tough. For professional players, when they are under the hammer, it's really tough to get your best out and deliver for your country," said Shastri.

"It's very easy to be hard on the boys. But from the beginning, when the season started, our main aim was to show empathy. Because these are tough times. You have not seen these times since World War 2. It's hard to play in the bubble, so you have got to show empathy and they have been magnificent," he said. IANS

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