The world cup is 6 matches down and the Asian giants yet have to step in there boots for their first game. The Indian team is gearing up for their match against South Africa at Southampton on 5th June. Meanwhile, the one question on most of the Indian cricket fan’s minds is why their team has not played a single match yet!
Why this delay?
India has already been in England for 13 days, Virat Kohli and Co. are watching the tournament unfold from the outer, waiting for their turn. Apart from New Zealand, Westindies, Australia and Bangladesh, all have played two games out of the way by the time India plays its first match on Wednesday, June 5. The Indian team will be the only one to get so much time to settle down and get used to the English conditions – an advantage not afforded to other sub-continent teams.
Well, the answer for the delay has got nothing to do with such adjustments. It is plain and simple, according to a report, India was supposed to play their first match on June 2 against Bangladesh but the International Cricket Council (ICC) changed the schedule at the request of the all-powerful Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Lodha Guidelines
The BCCI cited in the reports said the board cited the guidelines of the Lodha Committee, formed by the Supreme Court to clean up cricket administration in India, to get the ICC to push back the date of the first match.
According to the rule, which also included the retirement age of the administrators, a time limit for the officials not exceeding two continuous terms, a cooling-off period and so on. Additionally, it is also compulsory for the Indian cricket team to have a 15-day recovery period between the Indian Premier League and upcoming international fixtures.
The Indian Premier League usually takes place from the first week of April until the last week of May. However, every five years, due to the clash with the Lok Sabha elections, the IPL had previously been shifted fully or partially to overseas venues. This year it was held in India itself, and the final of IPL 12 was scheduled to be held on May 19, and 15 days from then would have been June 3rd so it would not be possible for India to play their opener on June 2.
Why it is an advantage?
India will accept that it is to their advantage that they have few graceful days in this southern part of the country before their opener because it gives them time to get used to the weather that will play a big role in their gameplay.
The biggest plus from their protracted wait to get their campaign underway is the time some of the players with the odd injury have got to make a complete recovery. Kedar Jadhav, for instance, flew out with the team with giant question marks over the state of his left shoulder. This additional time might now bring him back into the mix, come next Wednesday’s epic clash.
