IND vs NZ: No ‘optional’ training ahead of Wankhede Test for India after streak-ending defeat in Pune | Cricket News
A few hours after their 12-year unbeaten Test series streak at home ended, the Indian team management informed all the players that there would be no optional training in Mumbai ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.
The Indian Express has learned that, instead, all players have been instructed to attend the two practice sessions before the third Test starts on November 1. “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 informed. India, in the past, had allowed players to skip nets a day before so that they could be fresh before a five-day game. However, it seems that the series loss hasn’t gone well with the team management.
Typically, seamers and top players generally skip or, at best, have a light training session before a Test match. It’s been the general practice followed for quite some time, especially considering the workload on Indian cricketers during any given season these days. It has also been followed so that players get additional time to recover. But the practice sessions before what has become a must-win match in terms of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, will now be full-fledged ones where players will toil hard. With five Tests to come Down Under against Australia, India cannot afford to lose the ongoing series 0-3. India will then fly to Australia on November 10 for the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Meanwhile, the Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul drove down to Mumbai to be with their families whereas most of the Indian players will be reaching Mumbai on the 27th along with the support staff. The players will be given two days of break where they can take rest and follow their regular training regime.
