The Indian cricket team commenced their training in Perth on Tuesday, less than two weeks before the start of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. However, notable absences from the session included star players Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. The training took place at the iconic WACA Ground, while the series opener is scheduled at the Optus Stadium on November 22.
Although Kohli was the first member of the Test squad to arrive in Perth on Sunday, he, along with Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and other senior players, skipped the initial training. According to The West Australian, their absence was due to a planned rest after India canceled a compulsory practice. The Tuesday session was optional, with full training expected on Wednesday and Thursday at the same venue.
In a strategic move to maintain privacy, the Indian team implemented strict security measures reminiscent of Manchester United’s visit in 2022. The WACA practice ground was shrouded in black coverings, and on-site staff were prohibited from using mobile phones outside their offices or filming within the grounds. Even Cricket Australia was unaware of India’s early arrival.
John Stephenson, the new CEO of WA Cricket, highlighted the extensive preparation: “There’s been a lot of work in the background to make sure we were ready for them. We have staff on hand to ensure we execute it well, and we’re looking forward to hosting the three days behind closed doors.”
Meanwhile, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant participated in the nets, with Jaiswal impressively hitting a six that cleared the practice area and landed across the street, fortunately causing no harm.
