New Delhi: Team India kicked off preparations for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a net session at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground in Perth. The five-match series will begin on November 22 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
The second batch of the Indian cricket team left India on November 11, Monday. Star batter Virat Kohli was the first player to reach Australia, landing Down Under on Sunday, November 10.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, who is unlikely to play in the first Test due to personal reasons, hasn’t travelled with the team.
Indian players didn’t waste any time in starting their preparation for the blockbuster series. Forbes cricket journalist Tristan Lavalette shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) which showed opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant hitting the nets at the WACA. However, there was no sign of Kohli.
Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal having a hit in the WACA nets. India’s first training session of their tour. No sign of Virat Kohli yet pic.twitter.com/mxXy0SqgcL
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 12, 2024
Jaiswal goes big at the nets
Lavalette shared another post accompanied by a picture of the ball that was apparently hit out over the nets on the adjacent road by Jaiswal.
Jaiswal just whacked it over the nets and onto the adjacent road. Luckily no cars or pedestrians around – the nearby school has just finished for the day pic.twitter.com/w8rt8HHVWI
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 12, 2024
India are training under strict lockdown with no public allowed to witness the practice sessions. To keep the sessions private, black sheets have been put up to cover the grill outside the training ground.
The WACA nets are covered from public view. Which, of course, means India are in town.
It was a similar sight when India were in Perth during the 2022 T20 World Cup pic.twitter.com/KByXQBOWiE
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 12, 2024
Kohli fever grips Australia
Meanwhile, cricket fever has gripped Australia as several newspapers in the country used Kohli’s image extensively to build up the hype of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The tabloids even printed Hindi and Punjabi headlines to catch the attention of Indian fans in Australia.
Australia will look to take advantage of the psychological blow India suffered in the home series against New Zealand to reclaim the BGT. India, who have won the previous two away series against the Aussies, slumped to a humiliating 3-0 series whitewash against the Kiwis recently.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Indian players didn’t waste any time in starting their preparation for the blockbuster series against Australia. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
