The Indian cricket team’s harsh secrecy regime has been revealed in a leaked email ahead of their first Test against Pat Cummins’ side next week in Perth – and even tradies are being targeted by the side’s security measures.
Fresh from their dismal 3-0 series defeat by New Zealand, India are taking every precaution to ensure that their training camp remains top-secret.
They’ve even gone as far as banning a group of construction workers from watching their training sessions or filming them.
The tradies had been carrying out works on the northern part of the ground as part of the $154.7million project, which will see a new clubhouse, swimming pool and health and wellness centre built on the site.
An email sent to the workers reads: ‘During all training sessions, please do not take any photos or fly any drones over the training sessions and please do not sit and watch the session,’ according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The WACA is also home to WA Cricket’s headquarters and staff have also reportedly been advised to not to film or take pictures of India’s training sessions.
India arrived in WA earlier this week, and have been preparing for next week’s opening test against Australia in the nets at the WACA.
The iconic cricket ground is currently undergoing major improvement works that intend to transform the stadium into a 10,000-capacity multi-sport facility.
Construction workers have been banned from watching or filming India’s top-secret training sessions at the WACA (Pictured: Construction workers watch a Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland at the WACA during a break)
India are stepping up security measures ahead of their first test against Australia next week by installing black screens around the WACA where they are currently training
The tourists arrived in Australia earlier this week and got to work straight away, with Virat Kohli being pictured in the nets on Wednesday
India have also erected a black screen around the ground, preventing bystanders from watching as India train in the nets.
The tarp was seen being fitted to fencing around the Nelson Crescent side of the training facility, located between the WACA and Gloucester Park.
There were several vantage points, over which journalists stood outside the ground and were able to get a brief glimpse of India’s batters in the nets during their session on Thursday that lasted for a couple of hours.
It comes after much secrecy has shrouded India’s arrival and plans to stay in Australia, with The West having also reported last week that Cricket Australia had not been informed of many details over their stay.
India seem eager to lock things down as they look to bounce back from their defeat by New Zealand.
It is not the first time India have tightened up security while on tour in Australia.
During the 2022 T20 World Cup, a hotel contractor had allegedly filmed themselves walking around Virat Kohli’s hotel room. The individual was subsequently stood down by the hotel.
Construction workers at the iconic cricket ground are currently working on a huge $154.7million redevelopment project (Pictured: Construction workers at the WACA retrieve a ball during a Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and New South Wales)
India are looking to bounce back from their dismal 3-0 series defeat by New Zealand, with a win Down Under
Kohli, who has endured a purple patch in form of late, subsequently hit out at the video that had emerged on social media, expressing concerns over his privacy.
‘I’m NOT okay with this kind of fanaticism and absolute invasion of privacy,’ the Indian cricketing legend said on Instagram.
‘If I cannot have privacy in my own hotel room, then where can I really expect any personal space at all?’
India had opted to play two matches against a WA XI side during that tour, which attracted big crowds but have chosen not to do the same during their current visit down under.
While doubts over Kohli’s place in India’s XI for next week’s opening Test have emerged, the batsman was seen in the nets on Wednesday fending off balls from his team-mates. Captain, Rohit Sharma was absent, as he appears to have stayed behind in India for the birth of his son.
The first Test will get underway on Friday, November 22, but it appears tensions have been bubbling away between both camps already this week, after Ricky Ponting was caught in a war of words with India coach Gautam Gambhir.
Ponting had appeared to speak out against Kohli and Sharma’s recent form, with the two experienced batsmen struggling to find runs against New Zealand.
‘There wouldn’t be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that’s only scored two Test match hundreds in five years,’ he said on the ICC’s review podcast.
India appeared in good spirits during the session, with their first Test against Australia coming on Friday, 22 November
Kohli was also seen having a kick about with his team-mates during a warm training session at the WACA
It comes after Ricky Ponting has been involved in a war of words with India’s coach this week
Gautam Gambhir (pictured) lashed back at Ricky Ponting over his analysis of Rohit Sharma and Rohit Sharma
But Gambhir hit back: ‘What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket,’ he said, during a press conference before his team left India.’
He subsequently went on to defend his two star players, stating: ‘More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit.
‘They are incredibly tough men. They’ve achieved a lot for Indian cricket, and they will continue to achieve a lot in the future as well.
‘For me, the most important thing is that they still work really hard, and they’re still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more.
‘The hunger in that dressing room is incredibly important for me.
‘I feel there’s a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the last series.’
