Team India players to get a 4-day break before IPL

The members of the India team will get a 4-day break post the three-match ODI series against England before they join their respective bubbles for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. 

As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued to the franchises, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has authorized bubble-to-bubble transfer of players. The players part of the ODI bubble will not have to undergo any quarantine period when they join the franchise bubble. 

The three-match ODI series is being held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium behind closed doors. The series concludes on March 28. According to the Times of India, a major chunk of players, who have been a part of the bubble environment since August last year, will go back to their homes before the T20 carnival. With the two-month-cricketing extravaganza set to get underway on April 9, the players will have to move to the franchise bubble latest by April 2. 

The SOP also states that antibody tests will be carried out to detect any false-negative reports.

“To account for any false positive RT-PCR test results, viz. For anyone with a high CT-value and history of COVID-19 infection in the previous 90 days, serology tests will be conducted for the presence of IgG antibodies. If the serology test shows high IgG antibody levels indicating a recent infection, a repeat RT-PCR test will be conducted and if the result of the same is negative, the participant will be allowed to re-enter the bio-secure Bubble immediately,” the document stated.

[Times of India inputs]