As the Indian cricket team began their training camp at Perth’s WACA Ground on Tuesday, two key players, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, were notably absent. With just under two weeks until the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, the team intensified security measures, resembling those seen with Manchester United, to ensure maximum privacy during practice sessions.
India’s initial session at the historic WACA ground comes ahead of the series opener, which is scheduled to take place at the nearby Optus Stadium, only three kilometres from the training site, starting November 22.
High-Profile Players Take the Nets, But Not Kohli or Bumrah
While Kohli and Bumrah were missing, other prominent players, including KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant, were seen actively participating in the nets. Australian journalists shared clips of Jaiswal, the youngest among them, hitting a powerful six that crossed the boundaries of the practice ground and landed across the street, fortunately causing no harm to pedestrians or property.
Despite Kohli being the first player from the Indian squad to arrive in Perth on Sunday, he, along with Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and several others, skipped this session. According to The West Australian, their absence was due to a scheduled rest, as India had cancelled the compulsory training and opted for a voluntary session. However, the team has planned a more intensive practice session on Wednesday and Thursday at the same venue.
Heightened Privacy Measures Enforced at WACA
Reports from The West Australian indicate that India has taken exceptional steps to keep their training secluded, covering the WACA practice ground with black drapes to block external views. Ground staff were also prohibited from using their phones outside the office or recording anything within the training area to prevent any breach of privacy.
Even Cricket Australia was unaware of India’s early arrival in Perth, as the team operated under extreme confidentiality and was provided with a security protocol similar to that of top European sports teams, including Manchester United during their 2022 tour.
New Western Australia Cricket CEO, John Stephenson, expressed pride in hosting the team securely, sharing, “We’ve worked extensively to ensure everything is prepared for them. Our staff will be on-site to maintain these high standards of privacy, and we’re looking forward to hosting them over the next three days in a fully closed setting.”
Strict Measures for Enhanced Privacy Amid Session Coverage
Despite the stringent privacy measures, some visuals from the practice session have surfaced. On Wednesday, local media reported that India’s heightened security protocols included restricting WACA construction workers from filming or even observing the training activities. This tight control underscores India’s commitment to preparing for the series without external distractions or leaks of their strategies, ensuring a fully focused environment as they gear up for a competitive start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
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