IND vs ENG Tests: Why India are practising behind closed doors at Edgbaston - complete details

Indian cricket team have now spent nearly three weeks in England, beginning at Beckhenham in London, moving on to Leeds, and are currently based in Birmingham. The squad faces scrutiny following a disappointing five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley.Despite the pressure, the team’s atmosphere remains relaxed with seniors putting their arms around the youngsters as the team continues this transition period.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Thursday, players participated in a team bonding activity at an adventure park in Birmingham — a much-needed respite before resuming their rigorous schedule in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.India are set to hit the training facilities again on Friday to start preparations for the second Test, from July 2, at Edgbaston. Their training plan includes three mandatory sessions, one optional session, and a rest day.However, the practice sessions scheduled for June 27 and 28 will be held behind closed doors without media access. BCCI explained that they're being held away from media scrutiny "owing to operations and security perspectives from the venue and ECB.”Also read | Travel diaries: KL Rahul travels with his mattress, the coaches' evening stroll and endless coffee runsIndia are due to rest on June 29 before hitting the nets again on June 30 with practice scheduled for 9:30am at Edgbaston. There would be a press conference on that day as well.The day after, on the eve of the second Test, there is an optional training session from 1:30pm local time with press conference pencilled in for 1:15pm.Trailing 0-1 in the series, India have a big task ahead of them as they go into the Edgaston Test. Historically, India have never won a Test at the venue in Birmingham. Out of eight Tests played at the venue, India have lost seven and drawn just once.Following the defeat at Headingley, India head coach Gautam Gambhir rejected the excuse of having a “young team,” stating: “Every defeat is bad. It’s not about the young team. It’s about the experience. We take pride in winning every game for our country. Being a young team is not an excuse. We represent 140 crore proud Indians, and we will give our best with no excuses.”In terms of team selection, the biggest dilemma for the management will be over Jasprit Bumrah. Having already declared that the seamer will play three Tests to manage his workload, it makes logical sense that he be rested for Edgbaston Test. The question then arises who comes in as a replacement for such a key member of the lineup.