New Delhi: The Indian cricket team arrived in kerala on Sunday evening, about 20 minutes behind schedule, for their ODI World Cup warm-up match against the Netherlands.
As the contingent members exited the terminal, an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds, assembled outside the airport, joyfully chanted ‘India, India,’ extending a warm welcome to the team in the capital city of Kerala.
While head coach Rahul Dravid and Jasprit Bumrah were among the first to board the team bus, notable absence included Virat Kohli, who didn’t travel with the team. However, sources suggest he’s expected to join the team well in advance of the warm-up game.
Following the cancellation of their last ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up game against England due to rain, the Indian cricket team opted for a chartered flight from Guwahati to Kerala.
However, upon landing, the city faced heavy rainfall, casting uncertainty over the remaining warm-up fixtures.
The meteorological department had earlier issued an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram and neighboring districts, with forecasts indicating continuous rain over the upcoming days.
Despite the hopeful stance of Kerala Cricket Association officials regarding the possibility of a complete game, fan engagement has been lackluster, primarily attributed to the adverse weather conditions.
The Indian cricket team is currently accommodated at an extravagant beachfront resort in Kovalam, situated approximately 15 kilometers from the airport. Should the weather conditions ameliorate, Rohit Sharma and his team are slated to undergo training on Monday before facing the Dutch in their upcoming match.