The two-time World Test Championship (WTC) runners-up, Team India are on a mission as they aim to beat and complete hat-trick of wins in Australia in the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As the team left for Australia in two batches, they have now got into a secret camp and have begun their training in Perth.
With the first Test of the five-match series set to commence from November 22 in Perth, a report by The West Australian stated that the Indian cricketers are taking part in a secret training camp in Perth. The report has also revealed that the Optus Stadium is currently under lockdown and public viewing of the practice sessions have been barred.
Strict restrictions as India gears up for five-match BGT 2024-25
According to the report published in The West Australian, along with the practice sessions being kept private, there have been heavy restrictions imposed on the staff including the use of phones. The meticulous approach ensures that strategies and training methods remain confidential, safeguarding India’s competitive approach for the BGT.
It is to be noted that the Indian team were scheduled to play practice games against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A side, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cancelled the match following the home Test series whitewash against New Zealand. This decision by the BCCI came in bid to avoid last-minute injuries.
The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also explained the reason behind BCCI’s move stating, “Look, you know, rather than practice match, we planned a very match simulation kind of a thing with India A. I think sometimes when you play that practice match, we’re travelling with a squad of 19 players and it was only three days that were allotted to us. And I don’t know how much workload we can get done in those three days in terms of getting everyone prepared.”
“So we, as a management as well, we feel that rather than having that, the match simulation where the batters can spend more time in the middle, batting in the middle, and then the bowlers as well can bowl a lot of balls, so that is something that, we as a team feel more comfortable doing rather than playing a practice game because game time is not a problem,” Rohit Sharma added.