The Indian team emerged from a six-day quarantine in Chennai to begin their preparations for the four-match Test series against England. Star batsman and captain Virat Kohli was seen with the team after missing the business end of the enthralling Test series win in Australia for the birth of his daughter. The first Test is set to be played behind closed doors but reports from India stated that crowds might be allowed for the second match – also in Chennai – after relaxations in rules from the Indian government. India begin the series as favourites after claiming one of the all-time great series win Down Under, and that too with nearly their entire first-choice XI injured. Meanwhile, England's Jack Leach said it would be a "dream" to make his mark on India's spin-friendly matches in his maiden tour of the South Asian giant. Joe Root's England will begin their four-Test tour against India in Chennai on Friday. Leach claimed 10 wickets with his left-arm spin in his team's recent 2-0 sweep in neighbouring Sri Lanka, and relished the opportunity to take on a star-studded Indian batting line-up led by skipper Kohli. "It's just a great opportunity. They are obviously a quality side that has come at the back of a great win in Australia," the 29-year-old said. "It is a great opportunity for all of us to test ourselves against, on paper, the best side in the world. It is my first time in India. This is what the dream is – to come to places like this to bowl spin." The touring England squad will begin training in Chennai on Tuesday after returning negative Covid-19 tests following six days of quarantine.
