Adelaide (Australia): Fans will be no longer allowed at India’s net sessions in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. The development occurred after fans passed rude comments to the team during their training sessions. The practice session was open for the fans on Thursday during which the incident occurred.
Fans cause chaos at practice session
While Australia had a few supporters cheering for them during their practice, thousands of them flocked to support the Australian side. As they had the opportunity to witness the practice session from close quarters it was chaos at the venue.
"It was complete chaos. During the Australian training session, not more than 70-odd people turned up but during India's session, 3000 came. No one expected so many fans to turn up," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"There was another fans' day in Sydney (ahead of the fifth Test) which stands cancelled as players were very disturbed by the rude and insensitive comments that were passed (here)," he added.
Fans asked Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant to smash sixes while they also passed comments on the fitness of the players.
"Virat (Kohli) and Shubman Gill could have been mobbed because of so many people. Some were doing Facebook live with friends and talking loudly just as the batter took the stance," an eye-witness said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
"One supporter continuously urged a player to say 'hi' to him in Gujarati. Another particular cricketer was body-shamed."
A similar incident with Siraj
This is not the first instance where Indian players faced trouble due to the fans. During the 2021-22 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Mohammed Siraj faced a similar incident when he was at the receiving end of racist slurs. The Indian team management had filed an official complaint with match referee David Boon.
Six spectators were escorted out of the stadium by the police after the incident.
India are leading by 1-0 in the series and the second Test of the series will be a day-night fixture played in Adelaide.
