Indian Cricket Team's Itinerary: Mission Impossible

By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

They’re supermen. Atleast that’s what inhabitants of this cricket-possessed nation think. And amongst this breed, there is a certain elite section: members of the BCCI, who seem to have taken this assumption a bit too seriously. If cricketers are placed on the podium of demi-Gods, the Board expects them act like some too.

One could term the Indian cricketers as globe-trotters, but, they’re more of refugees. They travel the length and breadth of the blue sphere, in an attempt to conquer one nation after another through their cricketing endeavours. Their closets are mobile; they live half their lifetime flying, eating and sleeping in air.

Now, how packed is jam-packed? Take a look at the Indian cricket team’s itinerary, and one can probably comprehend. The year kick started with the South African sojourn (3 tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20s), and the team has never looked back since then. This was followed by the mother-of-all-cricketing tournaments: the ICC World Cup that got underway in February, to go on till 2^nd April.

The World Cup witnessed a home-coming, but the warriors, sadly, did not even have the time to bask in the glory for this unparalleled accomplishment. They had to pack their baggage yet again, to split as a team, and let the region vs region battle take over. IPL time, and slam bang action for another 51 days. Come May 28, and the cricketers can heave a sigh of relief. Or, wait, can they? Really? Well, no. Clearly.

The men fly to the Caribbean Isles on yet another cricketing mission, beginning from June 4, to July 6 (3 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20). That’s not all. Lined up for them is an England tour from July to September (4 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), followed the English team returning the favour and touring India in October (3 tests, 5 ODIs). Hot on the heels of this home series, India will be playing host to the Windies in November (3 tests, 3-5 ODIs), post which, they’ll fly Down Under for some chin music in December (4 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20).

Phew! Spectators are already reeling under an overdose of the timber and leather battle, evident from café’s that are virtually empty. This is in stark contrast to the scene when people made a beeline for these very cafes during the World Cup. If too much cricket has become an eyesore for the spectators, spare a thought for the men who face the sun, wind and rain, toil it out in the open, and yet face brickbats if they fail to perform.

Yes, the Indian cricketers have more than a million options to make a quick buck. They have fatter than fattest bank balances, they have their bunglaas, gaadis and maas, but do they even have the time to put this money to use? They’re left to deal with changing time zones and being constantly on the move.

Yes, they have their Mastercards in place, but there are somethings that money can’t buy. Hope the BCCI’s listening to this one.