Ian Healy warns Team India ahead of BGT 2024-25: ‘Closed-door training never worked'

Former Australia cricketer Ian Healy has opened up about the Indian cricket team's preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series. Ian Healy pointed out that India is now doing in Australia what Australia used to do years back in net sessions during their overseas tours.

The Indian cricketers have made headlines in major newspapers since arriving in Australia for the five-match Test series. According to a report in The West Australia, the WACA, where the team is preparing for the first Test of the series at Optus Stadium in Perth, has been in total lockdown since Tuesday.

India's training sessions are not open to the public, with the entire practice area covered in black nets. Reporters attempted to use drones to capture images but were unsuccessful. The group staff were also prohibited from using their phones outside of their offices and filming inside the ground.

There Are Extra Reasons Why India Locked Themselves Away - Ian Healy

Amid the reports about India's training sessions, Ian Healy said that opening up to the media and public could lead to a more enjoyable and successful tour. Speaking on SENQ Breakfast, Healy also said that there is immense pressure on Indian cricketers due to the seriousness of the sport in their country.

“India is now doing in Australia what Australia used to do in India, Pakistan and sometimes Sri Lanka – just not embracing the whole experience and the early media,” Healy said.

“If you sort of open yourself to media opportunities and do them and meet the Australian public and the many Indians that are out here – it goes a long way to a much happier tour. There are extra reasons why India locked themselves away, we just cannot imagine the clambering throng that they have to cope with day in, day out."

"So maybe training is their safe space, and they've got to get a fair few things done and they want to do it away from the prying eyes. With social media, cricket in India is 1000 times more serious than in Australia," he added.

The Squad Just Doesn't Relax When You Do This - Ian Healy

In the same discussion, Ian Healy recalled how shutting themselves off from the media led to a dip in their performance in England. The Queenslander said that England’s performance drastically improved when they opened themselves up to the media.

"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 stated.

India to Allow Journalists for Intra-Squad Warm-Up Match

Despite media reports surrounding India's training sessions, the BCCI denied any such claims. According to The West, the Indian board allowed media access to their training on Wednesday. It was reported that journalists would be allowed at India’s three-day intra-squad match starting Friday at the WACA.

The highly anticipated five-match Test series between Australia and India is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. This opening Test will set the tone for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

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