Indian cricket team’s practice sessions will no longer be open to the general public for the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the visitors have raised concerns about the arrangement.
Thousands gathered for the team’s training in Adelaide on Tuesday (December 3) and the players were unsettled by the constant chants and remarks during the session.
It has been reported that the public, who were situated close to the Indian cricket team, jeered at the players who were preparing for the pink-ball match in Adelaide starting Friday (December 6).
There were frequent loud chants and comments from the crowd and it didn’t create a suitable atmosphere for the visitors who are putting the finishing touches before the day-night Test.
The crowd was persistently urging players to hit a boundary or a six and even made belittling comments about players who got out or were beaten during the net practice. A well-placed source states that having the crowd so near to the action wasn’t ideal.
“They were literally next to the nets. (It) Could have been managed better. The constant chants, demeaning comments, requests for selfies, and all aren’t beneficial when players are trying to train hard,” said a source close to the situation.
Even as the players walked towards the nets area, a large crowd surrounded them and the demands for selfies and autographs only became louder as the session progressed.
“The session could have been managed much better. It could have posed a security risk too because the public was simply too close to the players. And the remarks and continuous slogans of ‘chauka maar’, ‘chakkar maar’, ‘out ho gaya’ are not suitable for a practice session,” added the source.
Fielding has become a vital part of modern cricket, and the Indian cricket team has made significant improvements in this area over the years. Once regarded as a weaker fielding team compared to several others, India now features some of the finest fielders globally.
The emphasis on fitness under captains like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli transformed fielding into a core component of India’s cricketing approach.
Modern Indian players rank among the fittest worldwide, thanks to innovative training techniques and a focus on strength and agility. Indian fielders excel at saving runs in the outfield, making outstanding diving stops and swift returns.
Whether in the slips, close positions, or outfield, Indian players have developed into reliable catchers. Quick movements and precise throws, especially from the deep, are distinguishing features of India’s fielding unit.
Fielding drills are essential for upholding the high standards of the Indian cricket team. Under the supervision of elite fielding coaches and support personnel, the Indian team practices various drills to augment their agility, reflexes, throwing precision, and catching skills.
On Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video showing Indian cricketers performing fielding drills under the supervision of fielding coach T Dilip in preparation for the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide that commences on Friday.
The video begins with T Dilip stating, “In today’s fielding session, we’ll begin with a team fielding in covers, mid-off, mid-on and short mid-wicket. I’ll be hitting the ball to covers, and the mid-on fielder will back up and send the ball back to Nuwan. Let’s get started! ”
The footage then features players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, among others, making throws at the stumps while fielding.
Subsequently, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are seen catching balls in the slips. Shubman Gill takes a close-in catch at silly point, and the clip concludes with Rahul executing a remarkable running catch as the ball swirls above him.
The Indian cricket team has evolved into a powerful fielding unit, owing to an increased focus on fitness and skill enhancement.
Athletes like Ravindra Jadeja embody this evolution, establishing India as a competitive team in every aspect of the sport. With the present group of athletic players, India’s fielding is anticipated to continue being a key element of their achievement.
