India captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli left for Mumbai hours after a defeat in the second Test match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. The result implies a first Test series defeat for India at home in the last 12 years. The Kiwis have managed to do the unthinkable by handing the hosts a Test series loss. While they first won the series opener at the M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru where India were bowled out for 46 in the first innings eventually losing the match.
And now a report by Indian Express has claimed that hours after the defeat in Pune, Rohit and Virat have left for Mumbai to spend some time with their families. The rest of their Indian teammates will be reaching the city, which will host the third and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday (October 27). It is being learnt that Team India players have been set a mandatory rule ahead of the third Test.
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No 'Optional' Practice Session For Team India
With India having conceded a series loss, the same report by the aforementioned publication has gone on to suggest that there will be no optional practice sessions for Team India. ALl the players will have to attend the two practice sessions following the team's disappointing performance.
"The team management has asked the players to be present for two days of practice on October 30 and 31. It’s compulsory and no one can skip it," a source informed the newspaper.
It is pertinent to note that the usual norm in case of Test matches with a short turnaround between matches is that the senior players and fast bowlers often choose to skip the optional practice session. However, with a place at the World Test Championship (WTC) final at stake and India's 18-series winning streak at home having ended, the management is calling for a compulsory practice session.