All Play, No Rest: Is Mental Fatigue Hurting India Ahead of World Cup?

A four-month expedition abroad for a cricket team can be a daunting prospect. For the Indians in Australia, it has already begun to show fissures of pressure and stress that have stretched from Tests to ODIs. (3rd ODI Scorecard | Report | Highlights)

After a 2-0 loss in the Test series, the team has lost its first two ODIs in the tri-nation series as well. "To hell with scoreline," Team Director Ravi Shastri had said after his team lost back-to-back Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane and drew the third in Melbourne. But 'hell' is  may well be where the team lands if it does not start winning again.

While playing Tests abroad has never been India's strength, the team is ranked two in ODIs but the drooping shoulders have hardly reflected the 'prowess.' There was a semblance of a fight against the Aussies in the first match but in the second against England at the Gabba on Tuesday, the men-in-blue were beaten black and blue. That this same team will enter the World Cup as the defending champions is quite appalling. (Sunil Gavaskar vs Wasim Akram: The great debate on Team India's bowling)

'To Win, Switch On and Off'

The team is under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy. For a leader who took his team to World Cup glory four years ago in Mumbai, he appeared rather apathetic after a nine-wicket drubbing against England on Tuesday. After all, defending 153 with an anaemic attack can be an arduous task.  "Staying four and a half months away from home is difficult," said Dhoni at the post-match ceremony, after he had outlined the obvious - and unforgivable -- batting flaws. "But we have to switch on and switch off. We need to switch on and assess what needs to be done in the nets, or wait in the hotel if the need be." (Also read: Dhoni blasts batsmen after loss against England)

At a juncture where time is of vital essence, too many 'switches' can spell doom for a team already in the doldrums. Dhoni, however, has tacitly revealed the need for his boys to take a break and it may not be a bad idea. Almost every player in the current ODI team also featured in the preceding Tests which began from December 9. Four Tests and two ODIs later, the world champions look anything but like 'world champions'.

Excessive Acclimatization Can Hurt As Well

Many experts felt the long tour right before the World Cup would help the players acclimatize to Australian conditions. Lack of it has hurt India in the past and therefore, it was a justifiable observation. A four-month long tour though is now showing that too much of anything can be bad. Or in India's case, out rightly terrible.

Batsmen have fallen, bowlers have faltered and the team as a unit has been inconsistent at best. So, while Rohit Sharma hits 138, the entire team manages just 15 more two days later. The difference? A bouncier pitch that shows acclimatization is no substitute for talent and temperament.

'Rest' Shouldn't be History!

Indian team cannot be faulted for not trying hard enough. The players ought to be faulted for the result not being favourable. Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had told NDTV that a team can have all the positivity in the world but if the results don't come, nothing matters. "You can't say the attitude was right (as) the results are not showing it," Gavaskar had said after Dhoni's view that fighting spirit and not results matter most.

Therefore, many would feel that the best option remaining for the Indian players is to unwind and take it easy. After all, the sweat and toil has only brought them defeats and what worse can come of a bit of leisure.

On the contrary, calm nerves can work wonders for the despondent team. Already under pressure from the weight of expectations, taking time off can bring in a fresh burst of energy. Reports also suggest the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to ban wives and girl-friends during the World Cup. Even if the ban is enacted, families can spend time before to help the players rise up once again.

After all, Dutch football coach Louis van Gaal emphasized on the importance of players being calm to be at their best, during the FIFA World Cup. "A player's brain and his psyche plays a part. And the psyche is influenced by his environment," the Manchester United boss had said while justifying allowing his stars to spend some time with their loved ones. The Dutch may not have won the World Cup but they won hearts with their solid on-field performances.

If the Indians can do the same come going forward, it will surely lead to much stronger performances than seen thus far.