India’s secretive net sessions ahead of 1st Test series. As Team India readies itself for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, preparations have kicked off in Perth in advance of the opening Test on November 22.
Team India has arrived in Australia for the upcoming five-match Test series. To secure a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship final, they must defeat the Pat Cummins-led team by a 4-0 margin. However, this will be no easy feat. India’s national team recently suffered a 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home, marking their first-ever whitewash in a three-match series. The opening match of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to take place on Friday, November 22, at Optus Stadium.
Under the guidance of coach Gautam Gambhir, the Indian squad was spotted at the renowned WACA Stadium on Tuesday, with players such as KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill taking the lead during net practice.
Rahul, working on regaining his form, joined his fellow top-order batsmen to refine their skills during the practice session.
Meanwhile, star players Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin sat out Tuesday’s session and were expected to join training on Wednesday.
As reported by The West Australian, India will play a three-day intra-squad warm-up match at the WACA, scheduled from Friday to Sunday. However, the public will not be allowed to watch, as the BCCI has enforced a lockdown on the stadium.
India has already started their preparations for the Border-Gavaskar series, which kicks off on November 22 at Optus Stadium. The WACA has been completely secured, with black coverings placed around the venue to ensure that none of their training sessions are visible from the street. The report also mentioned that West Australian cricket staff were prohibited from using their phones outside their offices or filming inside the ground.
Public access will be restricted, and the area will be locked down. Stadium staff have been instructed not to use their mobile phones during Team India’s net sessions. Reports indicate that the players will undergo match simulations as part of their training. To safeguard their privacy during preparations, a high black fence was set up around the training area.
This added security measure keeps the Indian team’s practice sessions hidden from public view, helping to protect their strategies.
This additional security measure reflects India’s careful approach to the series, allowing them to stay focused on their goals without outside distractions.
The Indian squad arrived in two separate batches, with the first group, which included young players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, already in Perth.
India will be without Rohit Sharma, who has remained in India for personal reasons. There is no update on his return, but head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that the BCCI will announce information about Rohit before the opening match.
In Rohit’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Men in Blue.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal were seen batting in the nets on November 12. The two left-handed batters are expected to play crucial roles for India in the series.