They had returned from Australia counting their bruises. And once they’re done with the non-stop madness of the IPL, India’s cricketers will not get a breather. Our correspondent looks at the tough road ahead

What do you call someone who talks about his messy house and dish-washing chores just when the party is warming up? Answer: A kill-joy alarmist. But even if one gets such an unflattering tag, speaking about what could be India’s post-IPL blues isn’t out of place at this stage.

Fans will eventually find a way to deal with their evenings without fours and sixes. The ICC, too, is confident that regular use of the T20 recreational drug isn’t a cause of concern. Cricket, it seems, is in the pink of health. But what about the cricketers?

As of today, the last 38 days have had a total of 81 Indian cricketers — 24 of who are in the scheme of things of the national selectors — having taken 14 flights each, lived out of suitcases and spent each day either on the field or in the air. The fitness report of former physio John Gloster after the Australia series and the post-IPL international itinerary of Team India (see boxes) is an indicators of how jaded the bodies in those trendy coloured clothing have been, and what their workload will be in the days to follow.

It could be the numbing effect of the over-flowing adrenalin within that the players, for a change, haven’t complained. Young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who is enjoying a memorable IPL stint with Kings XI Punjab, even jokes about the seemingly never-ending travel schedule. “Preity Zinta has been travelling with us to every match and she’s enjoying it too,” he says while speaking about the most-visible franchise owner on the circuit. On a serious note, he confesses that it has been hectic but this isn’t a moan as he is quick to add, “In today’s competitive cricket, one has to adhere to such tight calendars. I don’t think fitness will suffer, these are demands of modern-day cricket.”

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