India cap has to be earned

Wouldn’t Jasprit Bumrah have liked to have added a fifer or a tenfer to his career record against Afghanistan?. Pic/AFP

The FIFA World Cup has started in the USA and Mexico and unless you are a die-hard football fan, you aren't going to stay up and watch the matches unless it's your favourite team or your favourite player is playing in it. Maybe once it gets to the knockout stage, you might make the effort to stay up and watch the matches.

Since the USA is the co-host and their TV channels have paid a small fortune to acquire the rights, they will air the matches at what is prime time for their viewers. After all, they need to recover the cost or at least part of it for the sum they have paid to get the rights. There are also some breaks apart from the usual half-time one during the match, ostensibly because of the heat, so we are informed but mainly to air some commercials.

This is perfectly understandable as TV networks have to make money too. The same happens during the Olympics where US TV networks pay a small ransom to get the rights and then show the marquee events at their prime time and the hell with the rest of the world.

Double standards

Turn it around to cricket and ICC events where Star Sports and Jio have paid for more than 90% for the broadcast rights. The revenue also is almost all from Indian sponsors. Yet, if the network slots in India matches on holidays and at the prime time in India, the overseas media goes ballistic about favouritism by ICC. But there is yet not a whimper from these puppy dogs of the USA about the TV timings of the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics coverage.

The report that the BCCI is planning to start the IPL in early March and finish by mid-May would come as wonderful news for the players. With global warming, the summers are getting hotter and finishing the tournament before the rains set in, is a great idea.

Even as this is being written, the last of the three ODIs against Afghanistan is being played in Chennai. The temperature is not ideal for the players or even for the crowd to come and watch. The temperatures in Chandigarh and Lucknow were very unbearable and full marks to the players of both teams to have given off their best in that unforgiving weather.

Player health matters

That said, if finishing the IPL in mid-May makes sense, then why have these games where there are no ICC points at stake? These are India's elite players and we must look after them and not have them play in these sort of temperatures.

Yes, BCCI is like the elder brother to countries like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka, and have always tried to help them grow on the field and boost their finances by touring these countries. However, our cricketers' health and fitness are also crucial and there should be a clear month's rest for our players in the year. India is blessed with talent and so you can rotate the players but that is cheapening the India cap. The cap mustn't be given because a player replaces the undroppable player who is rested. It has to be earned.

In the Test against Afghanistan who have been honest triers but nothing more, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scored centuries, and Manav Suthar made an impressive debut. Jasprit Bumrah was rested but wouldn't he have liked to have added a fifer or a tenfer to his career record against this team. When India is playing, then the best team must play, unless there are injuries of course. But this resting because of workload must be avoided as much as possible. Have a look at the calendar and you will see that India is playing every month somewhere or the other.

Yes, by all means have ‘A' team and U-19 matches so that young players get the opportunity and the experience, but please spare our elite players and ensure they as a team and not just as individuals get at least a month's break in the year.

This year's schedule is already done and nothing can be changed but since the thinking is to have the IPL start and finish early next year is there, then please add a month's rest to not just the players but the fans of Indian cricket.

Professional Management Group