India fans flock to Melbourne Cricket Ground 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.

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