India Tour of Oz 2020-21: This Team India support staff could not travel to Dubai for this reason

Team India’s throw down specialist Raghavendra could not travel to Dubai as he is affected with COVID-19. Image Source: Xtra Time

Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India’s integral member of support staff and throw down specialist Raghavendra (Raghu) could not travel to Dubai as he is down with COVID-19. It is the first case of the dreaded virus among the players and support staffs who are due to travel Down Under to play a series against Australia starting from November 27. Raghu was supposed to travel to Dubai along with Head Coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Vikram Rathour and fielding coach R Sridhar. But he had been asked to join the squad later in Dubai once he is fit.

Even though Raghu had to skip travelling to the UAE, the team has another throwdown specialist in Sri Lankan Nuwan Seneviratne. His left-arm throwdowns are something that will help the Indians prepare for the Australian pace unit which is led by Mitchell Starc.

Meanwhile the test players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari will be starting their training under the lights at the ICC academy from Friday evening.

Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments in the Indian team management confirmed that while the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have already been training at the academy, they will now start training under lights.

“The team realises the need to prepare for such an intense series and we want to use as much of our time judiciously in Dubai. We will have sessions under lights from today and with the pink ball. Today’s session will be a three-hour session approximately,” the source said.

A jumbo Indian squad comprising of 30 players led by Virat Kohli will travel to Sydney from Dubai on November 12. The squad will quarantine themselves in hotel on reaching Sydney. The bilateral series will involve 3 ODI’s and T20Is each followed by four test matches.