‘Cricket is like religion’: India fans flock to MCG open training

It’s a sunny Christmas Eve at the batting nets outside the MCG. Rows of people line the metal barricades, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the players walking out.

You could easily assume that these crowds belong to the opening day of the Boxing Day Test. But people are here to watch the Indian team at one of the few open practices they will have during this Australian tour.

Earlier this month, India announced that they would be banning open training for the rest of their Australian tour after an estimated 5000 fans showed up to a night session on Adelaide Oval.

Sonal Choudhary and husband Harsh Bhatt attend the Indian cricket team’s open training.Credit: Gemma Grant

Sonal Choudhary and husband Harsh Bhatt have driven from their home in Sydney to attend all five days of the Test, and are here today to watch training. They understand why the team decided to hold closed sessions in Brisbane and Sydney.

“Sometimes the fans are super enthusiastic and do not draw a line … you know you need to know how to show your love,” says Choudhary.

“If some trainings haven’t happened and have been closed, it’s for the better. Teams need that peace of mind to perform.”

Indian fans watch training in Adelaide in early December. Credit: Getty Images

However, outdoor net facilities at the MCG are in a public space outside the ground, meaning training sessions are always open.

The crowd today are being respectful. Aside from a few chants and cheers, they let their team train. One popular fan is waving a giant flag and occasionally blows into a conch shell.

Bhatt says he is particularly interested in today’s session, partly because of what has been happening off the pitch.

Team India have clashed with the media during the current tour. Superstar Virat Kohli was involved in a verbal altercation with a female reporter at Melbourne Airport on Thursday.

At a press conference on Saturday, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja failed to answer any questions from Australian reporters, only answering a few questions in Hindi.

But these interactions don’t seem to be weighing on the minds of the Indian players.

Team captain Rohit Sharma dismissed a question from a reporter about the issue at a press conference today, saying he was “not aware” of any controversy.

And the fans don’t seem to mind much either.

“It’s fun to have a bit of fun ... It’s part and parcel of the game,” says Bhatt. “As long as [the team] put their best foot forward on the pitch. That’s what matters.”

Friends Suny Garg and Mohit Birla are just pleased that they’re able to get so close to the players. Cricket fans since childhood, they say it’s impossible to even get a glimpse of training back in India.

“I’ve never watched them [practice] live. It’s my first experience,” says Birla. “In India, there are too many people everywhere … there are less here.”

Friends Mohit Birla (left) and Suny Garg watch on at training.Credit: Gemma Grant

The Australian team held a similar open training session on Monday afternoon. But there were smaller crowds, no chants, and definitely no conch shells.

“Cricket is like religion in India,” Choudhary says, draping her flag over her shoulders. “I think we’ve just grown up with that love.

“I’m super excited to see [the team]. And I hope they’ll have a good practice so then they can perform and outdo what they’ve done before.”

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