Australian media’s mind games have begun. They’ve successfully managed to spread rumours about the Indian cricket team. After several publications Down Under shared that Team India has requested a close-door practice in light of the cancellation of the India vs India A match, it’s been revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made no such requests to Cricket Australia (CA).
Fake mail regarding India’s practice plans
Team India had decided they’d opt to practice on the middle/center wicket at the WACA instead of playing an intra-squad match. Then, two days ago, media reports in Australia claimed that construction workers who were currently present at the WACA were told by their company via mail that they weren’t allowed to click pictures of India’s practice sessions.
“This week India and India A are training at the WACA Ground from Tuesday 12 November until Sunday 17 November, as part of India’s preparation for the Test Match at Perth Stadium the following week. During all training sessions, please do not take any photos or videos or fly any drones, of the training sessions and please do not sit and watch the sessions.” the now proven fake mail alleged.
Practice open to all says BCCI source
“Neither from India or from India A such a request, at least on official capacity, has gone demanding closed-door net sessions. The practice session is open to all. The Indian and Australian media can watch and cover for as long as they want. There is no such restrictions till now,” a BCCI source told PTI.
“Obviously it won’t be a three-day official first-class match where if a batter gets out in first over, he won’t have access to centre wicket. It will be match simulation where any number of batters can bat,” the source added.
India A joins squad in Perth, special practice for Kohli & Pant
While the India vs India A match isn’t happening; the ‘A’ side has joined the main team to better prepare for the Perth Test. The Indian management wants their batters and bowlers to be battle-tested, and therefore a special match simulation has been curated. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant will be bowled at by one of Akash Deep or Mohammed Siraj, with the plan of playing a batting-loaded team against a side full of bowlers.
India’s squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
