Indian Test Players Left Frustrated and Fatigued by Flight Delay Ahead of West Indies ODI Series
Members of the Indian Test side who are also part of the ODI squad in the West Indies were reportedly left miffed, sleep-deprived, and annoyed due to a flight delay ahead of the start of the white-ball leg against the West Indies. After a washout on Day 5 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, which forced the second Test to end in a draw, the players were supposed to travel from Trinidad to Barbados, the venue for the first ODI, early morning. However, according to an Indian Express report, the flight got delayed and took off around 3 am, drawing the ire of the players.
With very little time between matches, the last thing the players would have wanted was a delayed flight, especially post-midnight. The Indian team management also requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to schedule late-night flights in the future as the players need adequate time to rest between matches.
They had left the hotel by 8:40 pm for the airport and had to wait for a long time at the airport. The team management has requested us to book a morning flight instead of late-night flights as players want some rest post-game. The BCCI has agreed to it and is planning to revise the next schedule, a source in the BCCI said.
The delayed flight and hectic travel schedule also meant the members of the Test squad decided to skip the practice session in Barbados.
The Test squad members who are also part of the ODI team include Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar. Vice-captain Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Umran Malik had already reached Barbados a couple of days earlier for the three-match series.
The first two ODIs are set to take place in Barbados before the players again travel to Trinidad for the final ODI.
India won the Test series 1-0, but these three ODIs will be their last opportunity to assess players like Sanju Samson, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
With Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma expected to open the batting, the chances for Ishan Kishan seem slim unless the team management wants to consider him as an attacking left-hander in the middle-order. Samson is the frontrunner for the wicketkeeping duties, while Kishan and Gaikwad remain as backup openers.
Hardik Pandya is likely to bat at No.6, while Suryakumar Yadav will have a final chance to prove himself in ODIs before KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer regain fitness.
The battle for the frontline spinner’s spot will be between Chahal and Kuldeep, as Jadeja seems set to claim the No. 7 spot. Considering the slow nature of the Caribbean pitches, there is a possibility of both Jadeja and Axar playing in the XI, with Siraj taking the lead seamer’s role.
Despite the frustration caused by the flight delay, the Indian team is determined to give their best in the upcoming ODIs. They will be hoping for better travel arrangements and enough rest to perform at their optimal level.
