The head of Sydney’s biggest Indian community has told Yahoo Sport Australia they’re backing the move to ban spectators from the Test cricket team’s training sessions, saying it’s an indication of their ruthless intent to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India team management has requested all future sessions be closed to the general public after 5000 fans lined the nets in Adelaide to get a peak at their heroes ahead of the second Test.
Many players found the scene unsettling and disruptive, with spectators reacting to almost every ball while repeatedly asking for selfies. Quoting a source close to the team, The Times of India reported: “The session could have been handled much better. They were literally next to the nets.
“The regular chants, demeaning remarks, requests for selfies and all don’t help when players are trying to train hard. It could have been a security situation too because the public was very close to the players.”
Opener KL Rahul admitted the raucous scenes had caught his team by surprise. “Very different. Not used to it,” he said. “We have practice with crowds but it’s mostly T20 and ODIs back home…we’ve had crowds come in and watch our practice sessions. It felt a little different but also it adds to your preparation for the Test match and gives us a bit of what we can expect on day one or all the days here in Adelaide, so it was good.”
Following a request from India team management, public access to training will be restricted in the lead-up to Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. “India have expressed a preference for their remaining training sessions not to be open to the public to minimise potential noise or distractions,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.
Sanjay Deshwal is the president of the Little India Business Association in Sydney’s west – home to a huge Indian population – and a diehard cricket fan. While conceding India’s stance may upset some fans, he sees the ban as a positive.
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“Australia and India is a very competitive series and I am very happy India is showing this sort of serious commitment,” he told Yahoo Sport Australia. “In some previous tours they have been criticised for roaming around the country and not taking training seriously, so to me this ban is a good sign.
“I think the management and the players are showing how much it all means. It shows that they mean business. Indian fans are very passionate and some might be disappointed not to see their idols at training, but they will make up for it in the stadiums.
“They will be colourful and noisy. The Aussies will also get behind their team so it should be a great atmosphere.” The second Test begins in Adelaide on Friday afternoon.
