India vs New Zealand: Smriti Mandhana to join visitors for remaining ODIs as quarantine ends

Christchurch: Star batter Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday completed her extended stay in quarantine in Christchurch and left for Queenstown to join the Indian women’s cricket team for the remainder of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Mandhana had missed the one-off T20 International and the two ODIs against New Zealand as she was in extended Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) along with two other players – pacers Meghana Singh and Renuka Singh. Renuka is already out of quarantine but there is no word on Meghana yet. “Finally out of quarantine!! Can’t wait to get back with the team,” the 25-year-old Mandhana wrote on her Instagram handle, along with a picture of her with her luggage.

In her absence, India had lost the one-off T20 International and the first two ODIs. The second ODI was played on Tuesday while the third will be held on Friday. Earlier, after the one-off T20I, batter Yastika Bhatia had informed about the stay in MIQ of Mandhana, Meghana Singh and Renuka Singh. The Indian team had undergone a 10-day MIQ in Christchurch after its arrival in New Zealand. The team had undergone a week of hard quarantine in Mumbai before its departure on 24 January. To reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak, New Zealand Cricket had moved all of India’s fixtures, including a T20I and five ODIs, to Queenstown. The bilateral series is a key assignment for India ahead of the 50-over World Cup in March-April in New Zealand.