Delhi, December 4, 2024 (Navroze Bureau) –The BCCI canceled open practice sessions for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after chaos erupted in Adelaide. India’s second practice session ahead of the day-night Test against Australia was converted into a media-only event after Indian players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, were “heckled” by fans. Around 3,000 fans gathered at the nets to catch a glimpse of the players practicing with the pink ball before the second Test starting on Friday. While practice sessions are usually closed to the public, this one was open to the local Adelaide crowd.
The crowd made a lot of noise and added colour to India’s four-hour-long practice session, but a section of them also made life difficult for the Indian cricketers. A source privy to the development said the Indian cricketers were troubled by some of the comments passed by the crowd and the multiple requests for selfies made it difficult for them to concentrate.
“Yes, the training will not be accessible to the general public now. The players were heckled during the open session on Tuesday. So many selfie requests when players are trying to prepare for the crucial series. The entire situation could have been dealt with better. Public won’t be allowed access to training sessions, however, media can come and see the players train,” the source told Hindustan Times.
Kohli, Rohit, Pant have a hard time
News agency PTI reported that rude comments were passed to the Indian cricketers.
“It was complete chaos. During the Australian training session, not more than 70-odd people turned up but during India’s session, 3000 came. No one expected so many fans to turn up,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Summary: Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill were nearly mobbed, while Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant faced rude comments and body shaming during their time in Adelaide.