Image: Team India has decided to ban open training sessions for the remainder of the BGT 2024-25 / © Siasat
With the India vs Australia series getting all the hype, Team India has decided to ban open training sessions for the remainder of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after an incident in Adelaide. During the opening Test, nearly 5,000 fans attended the Indian team’s practice session, which led to disruptive behavior, including constant requests for selfies, commentary on the players’ actions, and mockery when they missed balls or got out.
This prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to restrict public access to their future practice sessions. The Australian team, however, will continue to allow the public to attend their training. Only media personnel will be allowed access to India’s sessions moving forward.
While no direct conflict between players and fans has been reported, the Indian team sought to minimize distractions to maintain focus and avoid potential tensions, reminiscent of an incident during the 2011-12 tour, where Indian players were involved in a heated exchange with a fan.
KL Rahul noted the unusual experience of training with such large crowds, especially for a Test match, but acknowledged it helped the team prepare for the atmosphere expected during the Adelaide Test, set to begin on December 6.