India's England Tour: Rahul's Mattress Comfort, Coaches' Strolls, and Team's Coffee Fix

Behind the Scenes: Team India's England Tour - Mattresses, Strolls, and Coffee

Birmingham: Following their match in Leeds, the Indian cricket team embarked on a three-hour bus journey to Birmingham on June 25 for the next leg of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. While many players brought their own pillows for the trip, KL Rahul took comfort to a new level, carrying a foldable mattress in the luggage compartment.

Rahul's preference for his own mattress stems from a desire for consistent sleep quality, as he, like many of his teammates, finds hotel beds unsuitable. This personal arrangement ensures he avoids the discomfort of softer mattresses, highlighting the importance of rest and recovery during a demanding tour.

The team arrived in Birmingham under sunny skies on Wednesday afternoon. Jasprit Bumrah was quick to visit a local grocery store for essential items. The rest of the day was spent settling into their luxury hotel.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were seen taking their customary evening stroll around a well-known local spot, continuing a tradition observed since the Champions Trophy in Dubai.

With the second Test still a few days away, the players are enjoying a period of rest and relaxation, with more sightings of the team expected in the coming days.

The Constant Coffee Runs

The tradition of coffee runs, which began in Leeds, is set to continue in Birmingham, and will likely extend to London and Manchester before the summer tour concludes at The Oval. In Leeds, players regularly ventured out in groups for coffee and meals, a common practice before the series opener at Headingley.

Senior players have made a point of spending time with the younger members of the squad when not training or playing. Before boarding the bus to Birmingham, players like Kuldeep Yadav, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and fielding coach T Dilip made sure to stock up on caffeine before Rishabh Pant and Arshdeep Singh took control of the music on the bluetooth speaker.

While the team had a day off from training on Wednesday and Thursday, there's a good chance they'll be back on the field for cricketing activities on Friday.