Team India ban open training sessions for remainder of BGT 2024-25 after poor crowd behavior in Adelaide - Reports
Discontent with the unruly conduct of the general public during their practice session in Adelaide, Team India have enforced a ban on open training sessions for the rest of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series. Close to 5,000 people had flocked in to watch the Men in Blue go at it in the nets, but constant chatter and recurring requests for photos have left the management with no other option.
The Australian training sessions, on the other hand, will continue to be open to the public, while only media personnel will be permitted in the Indian practice routines.
"A source close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India indicated that players were also subjected to requests for selfies while they were batting, constant commentary of their actions in close proximity and some were mocked or laughed at after missing the ball or getting out," a report by The Age read.
“India have expressed a preference for their remaining training sessions not to be open to the public to minimise potential noise or distractions,” a CA spokesperson told The Age.
While no reports of friction between the players and the fans have emerged so far, Team India know how quickly things could turn ugly. During the tour of Australia in 2011-12, Rohit Sharma and Praveen Kumar were infamously engaged in a heated argument with a fan during a net session in Melbourne, after the fan had abused the now-Indian skipper.
"Very different... not used to it" - Team India's KL Rahul on jam-packed training sessions
The Indian contingent are not unfamiliar with the fanfare that surrounds them constantly. However, Team India batter KL Rahul has expressed surprise over the large turnout at the premises to watch the players go about their business as they prepare for the pink ball Test.
“Very different. Not used to it. We have practice with crowds but it’s mostly T20 and ODIs back home, we’ve had crowds come in and watch our practice sessions. So it felt a little different but also it adds to your preparation for the Test match and gives us a bit of what we can expect on day one or all the days here in Adelaide, so it was good," KL Rahul said during a press conference (via The Age).
The second Test between India and Australia will begin on Friday, December 6, at the Adelaide Oval. The Men in Blue head into the day-night affair with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.