IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test: No practice for India today, Australia begins training in Melbourne
After two consecutive days of intense training, the Indian cricket team will take a rest day on Monday ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Having drawn the third Test in Brisbane, the Indian players were quick to start preparations upon arriving in Melbourne, but Monday will provide them a chance to recuperate.
Meanwhile, the Australian team is set to have their first net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the same day. The upcoming match is a must-win for India to keep their Border-Gavaskar Trophy hopes alive and enhance their chances of securing a spot in the World Test Championship final.
Injury concerns during training
India’s training sessions over the weekend included some injury concerns:
- KL Rahul suffered a back injury scare during a freak incident.
- Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, was spotted with an ice pack on his knee after being struck in the nets. He was also seen using a baseball bat for specific drills to improve his fielding and batting technique.
- Pacer Akash Deep reportedly took a blow during Sunday’s session.
Despite these issues, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli led from the front, being among the first to hit the nets in Melbourne.
Fans meet their heroes
On their rest day, some lucky fans had the chance to meet the Indian cricketers at their team hotel. The playersclicked pictures with fans near the stay, taking time out of their recovery schedule to engage with supporters.
Match details
The IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test will commence on December 26 at the MCG, with a packed stadium expected to witness the crucial encounter. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams are aiming for a lead as the stakes for the WTC final continue to rise.