Team management makes it ‘mandatory’ for Indian players to attend training sessions ahead of Mumbai Test
Indian team management tightens screws after Test series loss to New Zealand
The Indian team management has made it mandatory for all squad players to attend the two-day training session (on Oct30 and 31) ahead of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai starting November 1. Per the latest reports, these two sessions are not optional, and players cannot skip them. This development came after India lost the second match in Pune by 113 runs, surrendering the Test series at home for the first time in 12 years.
“The team management has asked the players to be present for two days of practice on October 30 and 31. It’s compulsory, and no one can skip it,” a source close to the information confirmed, as quoted by The Indian Express.
Earlier, the team management used to allow players to skip training sessions ahead of a Test to ensure they were fresh and ready for the next five days. However, the Test series loss at home to New Zealand made the management take stricter actions.
Typically, the fast bowlers and the high-profile players used to skip these training sessions or, at best, have light ones compared to the newcomers or emerging players in the line-up. It’s been a general practice for some time now, given how tight Indian cricket’s schedule is during the home season, and also because players can buy time to rest, recover and be ready for the next game.
Now that India lost two home matches on a trot, chances of directly qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final are under dark clouds. India needs to win four out of the six remaining Tests, five of which are against Australia Down Under, to ensure a smooth ride to the finals.
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Should India lose the next game in Mumbai, their chances of reaching the summit clash (scheduled in June next year at the Lord's) would suffer a beating. The remaining contenders, including the Kiwis, Sri Lanka and South Africa, are also chasing this dream.
Players reach Mumbai for final Test
The Indian Express also reported that stalwarts Rohit and Virat, alongside KL Rahul, drove to Mumbai with their families, while others will reach the city on Sunday (Oct 27). The players will rest for two days before beginning training for the final Test.
Meanwhile, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel created history the last time India played the Kiwis at the Wankhede three years ago, becoming only the third bowler after England’s Jim Laker and India’s Anil Kumble to pick ten wickets in an innings, though New Zealand lost that Test by 372 runs.
(With inputs from agencies)
