Ahead of the pink-ball Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India has decided to close their training sessions to the public, ending a brief experiment with open practices that drew thousands of fans in Adelaide.
Nearly 5,000 spectators turned up at the training venue to watch the Indian players practice, an initiative by Cricket Australia aimed at enhancing fan engagement.
However, the experience quickly became challenging for the visitors. Fans were positioned uncomfortably close to the nets, creating a distracting environment for the players as they prepared for the crucial Test.
During the session, fans shouted chants like “chauka maar” (hit a four) and “chhakka maar” (hit a six). Some players even reported hearing disparaging comments about their performances during the nets.
KL Rahul acknowledged the unique experience, noting the stark contrast between this and typical practice scenarios.
“It was very different. We’re not used to it. Back home, we’ve had crowds watch our T20 and ODI practice sessions, but for Test cricket, it’s unusual. That said, it added to our preparation, simulating some of the atmosphere we might face during the Test match. It was good in that sense,” Rahul said during a press conference on December 4.
A source close to the team expressed concerns about the proximity of fans to the players.
“India has requested their remaining training sessions not be open to the public to reduce potential noise and distractions,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson shared.
Going forward, India plans to adopt a stricter approach, similar to the measures in Perth, where training sessions were shielded from public view using large black hessian covers.
Sessions in Brisbane and Sydney will also be closed to the public, with only accredited media allowed access.