The ICL has a few batsmen like Rayudu, who spent years waiting in the wings watching Indian cricket’s Fab Four perform. Maharashtra batsman Dheeraj Jadhav, who was an India A regular after several highly successful domestic seasons, narrates the plight of a cricketer who spent most of his prime staring at a closed door. “The most difficult part is to start a new domestic season after you have done well at the India A level and not made it to the national team. Motivation is a problem. Besides, you also get to hear a number of things on the A circuit — someone says you are certain India material and someone else will talk about the politics in selection. It’s all very confusing,” he says.

A noticeable aspect of India A games is the intra-squad contest between players which, at times, is more intense than the collective battle of the two teams on the field. With the selectors keeping a close watch, a rare vacancy in the national team means focus on several contenders playing on the same side. A tense dressing room and differences between players are a common fallout.

Though officials accompanying the team deny it, players admit to such a scenario. “Bring me one cricketer who says he’s just playing for the love of the game and the team but doesn’t yearn to wear the India colours. Every cricketer plays with that single aim of making it to the top level,” says Jadhav.

Former India A player Kanwaljit Singh doesn’t deny that team spirit goes on the backburner at times during A games. “For starters, an India A slot can be highly competitive. It definitely involves team effort and also a matter of pride. But, let’s be frank, it’s also about individual competition. I wouldn’t say it led to any bad vibes in the dressing room when I was a part of the team, but every single player is counting on his own performance to make the most of the opportunity,” he says.

... contd.