In pics: Virat Kohli and Co. leave for four-match Test series in Chennai vs England

After only playing the forgettable first Test match against Australia, Virat Kohli had left Australia for India on paternity leave. The cricket and his wife Anushka Sharma were blessed with a baby girl.

Now after fulfilling daddy duties, Kohli is back as he was added to the Indian squad and will lead the side against England. The Indian skipper was spotted at Mumbai airport leaving for Chennai.

India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, opener Rohit Sharma and pacer Shardul Thakur on Tuesday also flew from Mumbai and arrived in Chennai.

(Photo credit: Viral Bhayani)

Mohammed Siraj had made his Test debut last month when India took on Australia in a 4-Test series. He finished as the highest wicket-taker from the country with 13 wickets in 3 Tests.

Siraj rose through the ranks and had made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in 2015. He, however, caught the attention of selectors during the 2016-17 season when he played under the coaching of Bharat Arun at Hyderabad.

Siraj picked up 41 wickets in nine matches during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season for Hyderabad. He went on to make his India debut in the T20I format and he had to wait three more years to make his Test debut.

The young fast-bowler who had led the pace attack in Australia in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, posted a photo of him in his Instagram story saying he has left for Chennai from Hyderabad.

As Team India will be playing the four-Test series at home, senior pros Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma could likely be the opening pair as it was during South Africa and Bangladesh Test series in 2019. However, the emergence of Shubman Gill in Australia could mean the youngster could also be rewarded for the same. 

Mayank Agarwal managed a maximum of 17 runs in an innings against Australia this series. In the last 4 innings, the Karnataka lad has had scores of 17, 9, 0 and 5. With him added back in the squad, fans will hope to see the 2018 young-gu back in action.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had instructed the Indian players, who are part of the England series, to take a COVID-19 test before checking into the team hotel in Chennai.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, team doctor Abhijit Salvi has told that only those Indian players whose COVID-19 test is negative will be allowed to join the new bio-bubble.

Earlier, the Indian team was in a bio-bubble throughout the Australian tour and were even asked to remain in home quarantine after arriving in India.

Indian players who featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE were in the bio-bubble for an extended period, as they headed directly to Australia after the cash-rich tournament. The players had taken multiple COVID tests during their stay in the UAE as well.

Sharing snippets from their hotel rooms, R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma showed the view they have as they will be quarantined before the series begins.

England will become the first team to play a series in India amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In this picture, all the England players are undergoing COVID-19 testing before they get into the bubble. The squad will be in a tough bio-secure bubble, having endured two bio-bubbles in South Africa and Sri Lanka. 

The players will immediately head into the bio-bubble in the hotel and they will be allowed to train. The England cricket team have a poor record in Chepauk, having lost three Tests at the venue in 1993, 2008 and 2016. 

(Image credit: ANI Twitter)