BGT 2024-25: Ian Healy urges India to stop closed-door training session, says 'it's never worked'

Former Aussie great Ian Healy has urged the Indian team to stop closed-door training sessions as they prepare for the opening Test match against Australia in Perth. On Thursday (Nov 14) Healy stated that the Indian team needed to be more direct and that their closed-door training session could dampen their preparations for the opening Test.

The Indian team will start their two-month-long Australian tour with the opening Test in Perth on November 22 with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final still up for grabs.

Healy warns India ahead of the series

"It's never worked. The squad just doesn't relax when you do this, when you lock yourself away the media start turning the screws and the squad just can't relax. England did it when they opened themselves up, and the next one when they didn't, and it was an incredible difference in performance,” Healy said while speaking on Thursday.

India is likely to head into the five-match Test series without skipper Rohit Sharma who is on paternity leave. While the rest of the squad is in Australia, Rohit could still join the Indian team if returns early from the leave. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to wear the captain’s armband if the veteran batter is absent.

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The Indian team has been victorious in the last two visits to Australia and also won the Boxing Day Test in 2020. Rohit Sharma’s men will look to repeat the heroics as they look to take a giant step towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India-Australia series) Schedule

1st Test: 22nd November to 26th November, Perth

2nd Test: 6th December to 10th December, Adelaide

3rd Test: 14th December to 18th December, Brisbane

4th Test: 26th December to 30th December, Melbourne

5th Test: 3rd January to 7th January, Sydney