Along with the men's team and their family, the women's team have also travelled along who will be playing a Test match after a gap of seven years.
India and New Zealand will be locking horns in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, beginning June 18.
While the Kiwis have begun their UK tour with a two-match Test series against England, Team India, who were quarantined in Mumbai have left for the country.
In a recent virtual press conference, skipper Virat Kohli was asked about New Zealand having an advantage due to the suitable conditions to which he replied saying, "We are going to board that flight knowing that we are at equal terms. And whichever team performs well session by session, hour by hour is going to win that championship".
As for Team India, prior to travelling, the party had spent 14 days in a bio-secure environment in India during which regular testing will have taken place.
Along with the men's team and their family, the women's team have also travelled along who will be playing a Test match after a long gap of seven years.
1. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma with baby Vamika
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The images of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, with the latter holding Vamika closely as she steps out of the team bus and goes to the airport, have gone viral on social media.
Anushka is seen holding her nearly 5 months old baby Vamika and has covered her daughter properly.
Virat had recently mentioned on an Instagram Q and A and, "No we have decided as a couple to not expose our child to social media before she has an understanding of what social media is and can make her own choice."
(Photo credit: Yogen Shah Instagram)
2. KL Rahul clicked at Mumbai airport
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KL Rahul, who was last seen leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, was diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the tournament and was admitted to a hospital.
The batsman was said to be still recovering from after his surgery, was named in India's Test squad for the WTC final and the subsequent five-Test series against England. His availability was subject to fitness clearance.
Now seeing him at the airport with the Team India members suggests he has recovered and would be playing with the Men in Blue.
(Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
3. Rohit Sharma
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While Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane tops the chart of top run-getters list in the WTC with 1095 runs in 17 matches, Rohit Sharma could change it soon.
For India, Rohit Sharma has scored 1030 runs while Virat Kohli has 877 runs as the two occupy the No 2 and 3 spots.
In 11 appearances, Rohit has averaged 64.49 and slammed four centuries and two fifties while Kohli, on the other hand, averages 43.85 in 14 matches. It comprises two centuries and four fifties.
At No 4 spot is Mayank Agarwal with 857 runs, while Cheteshwar Pujara occupies fifth place with 818 runs.
(Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
4. Ritika Sajdeh with daughter Samaira
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Rohit Sharma's wife Ritika Sajdeh along with their daughter Samaira has been a strong support pillar for the 'Hitman'. They have visited most of his games and seen her praying from the sidelines.
Rohit Sharma, who is part of India's squad for the England tour was joined by his family in the bio-bubble which included a 14-day hotel quarantine before the team leaves for England on June 2.
Team India after reaching England will serve a 10-day quarantine before they can start training for the WTC final against New Zealand, starting on June 18.
(Photo credit: Viral Bhayani)
5. Indian women's cricket team's Mithali Raj
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The Indian women's cricket team will be playing a Test match after a gap of 7 years as they start the upcoming tour of England in whites from June 16.
Team India will be playing the one-off Test against England starting June 16 at Bristol followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.
The team was thrilled to bits when they received their jerseys on Sunday and the team management lead by the newly appointed coach Ramesh Powar presented them with their respective jerseys.
Many players even received their jerseys from the two stalwarts of Indian cricket - Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj.
(Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
6. Jhulan Goswami
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Skipper Mithali Raj was presented her jersey by pacer Jhulan Goswami, star batter Smriti Mandhana and the T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Mithali was also part of the Test match in the year 2014 when Indian women last featured in whites.
The legend of Indian cricket Goswami was presented her jersey by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. The team had made a presentation and each player was called when slides with their names appeared.
(Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
7. Jasprit Bumrah with wife Sanjana Ganesan
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Jasprit Bumrah and cricket host Sanjana Ganesan had solemnised their relationship on March 15 in a private ceremony in Goa and it was attended by close family and friends.
Bumrah had left India vs England Test series mid-way and was not available for the T20I and ODI series. However, days after marriage, Sanjana returned to work during the India-England ODI series in Pune, which the hosts won 2-1.
The duo were again seen being part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. They returned to their Mumbai home after the cash-rich tournament was indefinitely postponed.
(Photo credit: Viral Bhayani)
8. THIS will happen if India-New Zealand final ends in a draw
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As decided in June 2018, if the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand ends in a draw or tie, both teams will be crowned as joint winners. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the playing conditions for the final at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton next month.
As per the ICC release, the playing conditions confirm that a draw or a tie will see both teams crowned as joint winners as well as the allocation of a Reserve Day to make up for any lost time during the regular days of the Final -- scheduled to be played from June 18 to 22, with June 23 set aside as the Reserve Day.
(Inputs from ANI, Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
9. Changes to international playing conditions for WTC
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Short Runs -- The third umpire will automatically review any call of a 'short run' by the on-field umpire and communicate the decision to the on-field umpire prior to the next ball being bowled.
Player Reviews -- The fielding captain or the dismissed batsman may confirm with the umpire whether a genuine attempt has been made to play the ball prior to deciding whether to initiate a player review for LBW.
DRS Reviews -- For LBW reviews, the height margin of the Wicket Zone has been lifted to the top of the stumps to ensure the same Umpire's Call margin around the stumps for both height and width.
(Inputs from ANI, Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
10. Team India squad
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Team India Squad for WTC final and 5-match Test series against England: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav.
KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha (subject to fitness)
Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla
The missouts were the opener Prithvi Shaw, who since the Adelaide debacle has completely transformed his form and technique, and pacer Bhuvnehswar Kumar, who still is facing fitness issues after missing a couple of games in the IPL due to tightness in his thigh.
