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Kohli Says India ‘Cramped for Time’, but What About Other Teams?

Is Virat Kohli’s contention against BCCI valid or do other teams have schedules as packed as India’s?

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Cricket
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“As usual we’re cramped for time, which I think we need to assess in the future as well,” said Virat Kohli on 24 November when asked whether bouncy tracks were being prepared in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.

Lamenting about India’s packed schedule, the Indian skipper said that a team’s performance is scrutinised when they go abroad without looking at how much time they get to prepare before playing at a particular place.

But what is this packed schedule that Virat is talking about?

India started the year at home with a three-match ODI and T20 series against England and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. After the Indian Premier League in April-May, India dived into the ICC Champions Trophy which was followed by away tours to West Indies and Sri Lanka and three successive home series against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, comprising 23 matches (3 Tests, 11 ODIs, 9 T20s).

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Interestingly, India were originally scheduled to play a home and away series against Pakistan every year till 2023. However, due to political tensions the series was cancelled, leaving a two-month window. While BCCI could have chosen to give the cricketers rest or instead played a shorter series restricted to just one format, they instead chose to include two full-fledged tours.

And now, just two days after the Sri Lanka series conclude on 24 December, India will take off for their tour to South Africa to play three Tests, six ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals.

But is Virat’s contention against BCCI valid or do other teams have schedules as packed as India’s? Let’s find out by comparing how many matches each teams has played so far in this calendar year.

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Tests

Is Virat Kohli’s contention against BCCI valid or do other teams have schedules as packed as India’s?
*Includes matches currently being played.
(Photo: The Quint)

Currently locked in a three-match Test series against India, Sri Lanka have so far played the maximum number of Tests in 2017. By the time this year ends, India would have played 11 Tests and Sri Lanka, 13.

South Africa will be playing a lone Test against Zimbabwe on 26 December, taking their tally of Tests this year to 12. Australia and England are also currently playing the Ashes series comprising 5 Test matches. Since the final Test of the rubber starts on 4 January, both Australia and England would have played 12 Tests each by the end of the calendar year.

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ODIs

Is Virat Kohli’s contention against BCCI valid or do other teams have schedules as packed as India’s?

Sri Lanka have had an equally packed schedule as India this year. In One Day Internationals, both India and Sri Lanka have played 26 games. And after the upcoming three-match ODI series, both would have contested in a total of 29 one-dayers in 2017.

While England will not be playing any more games in the shorter format this year, West Indies will take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series in December. Thus, the West Indians would have played 22 ODIs and the Kiwis, 20, by the end of this year.

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T20s

Is Virat Kohli’s contention against BCCI valid or do other teams have schedules as packed as India’s?

Though the number of T20 Internationals played annually are comparatively less than other formats, but one must keep in mind that most cricketers participate in Twenty20 cricket leagues like the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League that take place throughout the year.

While Sri Lanka have played the maximum number of T20s so far in 2017, West Indies will be playing one more T20 against New Zealand before this year ends.

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Clearly, the Sri Lankans have also had a schedule almost as packed as India. However, a team like South Africa – that is currently ranked number one in ODIs – has played all of 19 games as compared to India and Sri Lanka’s 26. This could also translate to teams performing better when they’re playing fewer games.

However, it should also be considered that hardly any cricketer plays all formats and that boards, specially the BCCI, consciously make an effort to rest overworked players, like in the case of Hardik Pandya.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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