No more fans at practice after Indian team objects to open net practice sessions in Adelaide

The Indian cricket team decided to close their practice sessions to the public during their ongoing tour of Australia. This decision followed complaints from the team about the disruptive behaviour of fans during their open-net session in Adelaide.

According to the team management, the close proximity of spectators created an environment that was not conducive to effective training. Fans were reportedly heckling players, offering constant commentary, and even requesting selfies while the players were attempting to practice, which distracted them from focusing on their game.

The row over India’s practice sessions

Indian players, including KL Rahul, expressed discomfort with the situation. Rahul mentioned that the team is not accustomed to such interactions during their practice sessions, particularly in the context of preparing for Test matches, which demand a high level of concentration and mental preparation. These sessions are typically more private in nature, especially back home, where they do not generally face such close fan interactions.

Fans have traditionally been allowed to watch training ahead of a Test match at most venues. Cricket Australia reportedly held lengthy negotiations with the BCCI before the tourists agreed to the open session in Adelaide.

In Perth, too, India had opted to train behind closed doors when it played a three-day intra-squad match at the Western Australia Cricket Ground.

In response to the team’s concerns, Cricket Australia agreed to conduct future practice sessions behind closed doors, ensuring a more controlled and focused training environment for the players. The decision aims to minimize potential disruptions and help the team maintain their concentration and preparation standards.

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