Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat will be boarding the flight to the United Kingdom for the four-month-long tour. He has been roped in as a cover for senior wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who has just recovered from COVID-19. 

Speaking to ANI, A source close to the development said that the board took a precautionary step by adding the Andhra cricketer as a cover. The decision has been made with Saha's recovery from the virus in mind. The 36-year-old will serve as the second choice keeping option after Rishab Pant. Although, he has recovered in time to join the squad in Mumbai, BCCI is aware that he might take a considerable amount of time to regain full match fitness. 

“He was added as cover for Saha considering he was still recovering from the virus and wicket-keeping is a specialised job. If Saha wasn't fit in time, we would have needed a second keeper in the squad for the tour which is a three-month-long one," the source stated.

The key members of the team arrived in Mumbai via charter flight. They will undergo a 2-week quarantine before heading to the United Kingdom.

India’s Squad: Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance)

A long English summer awaits Team India

• World Test Championship Final: June 18-22 at Rose Bowl Stadium

India vs England - Test fixtures 

• 1st Test: August 4th – 8th at Trent Bridge
• 2nd Test: August 12th – 16th at Lords
• 3rd Test: August 25th – 29th at Headingley Stadium
• 4th Test: September 2nd – 6th at Kennington Oval
• 5th Test: September 10th – 14th at Old Trafford

[ANI input]