Cooped up in a bio-bubble while a new COVID-19 variant causes panic all across here, the India A cricket team will take on South Africa A in the second unofficial Test from Tuesday with some senior side aspirants hoping to make an impression. The first four-day game ended in a draw due to inclement weather on Friday last week even as the detection of the B.1.1.529 COVID-19 variant, which was named Omicron by the WHO, forced many countries to impose international travel restrictions on South Africa. The uncertain situation also led to the Netherlands abandoning their last two ODIs against South Africa which were scheduled at Johannesburg. However, India A have stayed put in Bloemfontein inside a bio-bubble.

The matches are being played without spectators and India senior team is also due to arrive in the country by December 9 for a nearly seven-week assignment starting December 17. If the situation deteriorates, it can jeopardise the tour which involves three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is across four venues -- Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl, and Cape Town. However, the India A players will need to keep the thoughts of the new variant at bay and focus on the task at hand as they revive their battle with South Africa A here. In the first game, India A batters produced a good show with Abhimanyu Easwaran hitting a solid hundred and skipper Priyank Panchal scoring 96 to take them to 308 for 4 in response to South Africa`s 509 declared when rain washed out the final day. Opener Prithvi Shaw also scored a fine 48 and he would look to make the most of the good batting conditions here. Hanuma Vihari, who was not picked for the two home Tests against New Zealand, could manage just 25 here and would be eager to make up for it in the second game.