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Tim Southee will lead the New Zealand team in the first T20I vs India.

Ribakova Elena
16 November 2021, MVT 16:18
Tim Southee will lead the New Zealand team in the first T20I vs India.
Ribakova Elena
16 November 2021, MVT 16:18

New Zealand's stand-in captain Tim Southee feels long periods in bubble life does take a toll on the cricketers' physical and mental health and hopes that they don't have to play in protected environments for far too long. In less than 72 hours of playing the T20 World Cup final against Australia in Dubai, New Zealand play India in a three-match bilateral series in a space of five days. Southee, who has been in bubbles since the IPL resumed in September, said the scheduling in COVID times is beyond their control but it does impact the players.

"With what's happened in the world in the last last couple of years (COVID), it had made things a lot tougher with bubbles and quarantine and it does take its toll after a while," said Southee, who will also stay back for the two-Test series against India though his new ball partner Trent Boult will head back after T20s. "We don't know what's going to happen in the future. Whether we're gonna have to continue to play in bubbles and I guess you are put under more pressure with the quarantine time thrown as well."

After New Zealand's loss to Australia in the World Cup final in Dubai on Sunday, head coach Gary Stead spoke about the unusual scheduling scenario his team finds itself in. The squad's chartered flight landed here on Monday evening. Southee understand that some of the things are beyond control.

Talking about conditions being similar to the UAE, Southee said the team is looking forward to playing in India as it is always a special experience.

"It is a new challenge of playing in India and the conditions will be similar but I'm sure we will need to adapt slightly."

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