BGT 2024-25: India’s Practice Sessions to Be Closed to Fans in Australia
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) A day after 5000 spectators flocked to the Adelaide Oval for India’s open practice session prior to their pink-ball Test against Australia, the visiting team has declared that their upcoming nets sessions will now be closed to fans for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
A report from The Sydney Morning Herald indicated that India’s players felt uneasy preparing amidst a carnival-like atmosphere at the nets in Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, being persistently approached for selfies during their batting practice.
Furthermore, fans were positioned very close to the nets, leading to continuous commentary on the players' actions, with some mocking or laughing at them when they missed the ball or were dismissed during practice. They also constantly requested the players to hit boundaries.
"India have expressed a preference for their remaining training sessions not to be open to the public to minimize potential noise or distractions," a spokesperson from Cricket Australia (CA) was quoted in the report. It was also mentioned that Australia will continue to conduct their practice sessions in an open setting, with reporters allowed to observe both teams’ nets.
Opener KL Rahul remarked that the open practice session in Adelaide was a distinctly different experience for the team. “Very different. Not used to it. We practice with crowds but it’s mostly T20 and ODIs back home, where we’ve had crowds come in and watch our practice sessions.
"So it felt a little different but also adds to your preparation for the Test match and gives us an idea of what we can expect on day one or throughout our time in Adelaide, so it was beneficial," he stated to reporters on Wednesday.
The second Test between India and Australia is set to commence on Friday, with the visitors leading the five-match series 1-0.
