India beat the bubble as victory brings a whiff of fresh air

By Khurram Habib Ahmedabad, March 6 : The majority of the Indian cricket team has been in a bio-bubble for almost half a year now, locked up in hotels through the IPL, Australia tour and in the home series against England with the Indian cricket board and the team management not giving them any break as has been afforded to players from England.
Only skipper Virat Kohli got a break although that was paternity leave.
Eventually it paid off as India could feature their best side and didn’t have to worry about combinations. Unlike England’s controversy over Moeen Ali’s departure and criticism that they aren’t fielding their best side and getting stuck with combinations that saw them lose crucial phases over the last three Tests, India have had it smooth.
India coach Ravi Shastri on Saturday admitted that the bio-bubble has taken its toll.
“Six months in the bio-bubble, seeing the same faces — the bubble will burst. It’s tough for professional players being in the bubble,” Shastri said.
India off-spinner R. Ashwin, who won the man-of-the-series award for his 32 wickets and important century in the second Test that he made in the second Test in Chennai, said that getting restricted to hotels has been tough. They have not been able to move.