CHENNAI: Fast bowler Sardul Thakur, along with Indian cricket team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and opening batsman Rohit Sharma, arrived in Chennai on Tuesday to play the first two matches of the four-Test series against England, which starts on February 5. Rahane, Rohit and Sardul flew directly from Mumbai to Hotel 4 after arriving here. Indian captain Virat Kohli is expected to arrive on Wednesday. They will be in contention with other Indian and English players for the next few days. Ben Stokes, Joffra Archer and Moin Alli, England’s first-rounders, have already been ruled out. Players from both teams will have a four-day suspension period and will start training from February 2. The players of the two Yak teams live in the local hotel Lila, the BCCI said. The Indian players, who arrived in Chennai for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, were tested before entering the party hotel. Only players with negative reports will be allowed to enter the hotel’s biological zone, said party doctor Abhijit Salvi. The Indian players have been tested 15 times since entering the team biopic in Dubai for the Australia tour. Similarly, the number of exams has touched 30 since leaving the UAE for the IPL. A few days ago, a 15-member team of England players and officials arrived in Chennai. The rest of the England players, including captain Joe Root, also arrived in Chennai on Wednesday after canceling the Test series in Sri Lanka. Root and his team arrived here at 10:30 a.m. today and went straight to the hotel. Like the Indian players, they will be in control for four days.
