If it's T20, All Roads Lead to India

The Champions League T20 is here! And it brings along the great IPL side vs 'home' team dilemma for a handful of top cricketers. Or does it? Eight international players selected to play for two teams in the upcoming CLT20 - a local side and an IPL side - have all picked their Indian franchise.

The Barbados-born Dwayne Smith will turn out in bright yellow and dance to the tunes of whistle podu instead of playing for his home franchise the Barbados Tridents. His compatriot Kieron Pollard, has chosen to help Mumbai Indians get past the qualifying stage and try to defend their CLT20 title instead of captaining his home side, who have already qualified. (CLT20: Would Rather be a Mean Winner Than Polite Loser, Says Gautam Gambhir)

With local turmoil and lack of adequate funds, one may even argue in favour of the West Indians picking the side that is more 'lucrative' for them. For picking IPL teams over their 'home' franchises in the CLT20, these players will walk away with an additions 10% earnings over and above their IPL contract.

Even as the outside world continues to ponder, there seems to be an uncanny uniformity for players across countries in making their 'tough decisions.' These 'tough decisions' come with interesting sub-plots too. The likes of Lasith Malinga and Corey Anderson will help Mumbai Indians in plotting the ouster their home franchise -- Southern Express and Northern Knights - in the qualifying stage.

Beyond the money factor, some decisions also seem to be poor from the cricketing point of view. While the money earned will be far more with the IPL franchise, the lack of game time is hardly being factored in by some of the players. Nothing else could explain why Australia's exciting pace sensation Pat Cummins would pick Kolkata Knight Riders over Perth Scorchers after getting a solitary game in the last season of the IPL. (Adam Voges Named Perth Scorchers Captain for CLT20)

Same goes for the retired veteran Jacques Kallis, who was relegated to the bench mid-way through Kolkata's successful season last year. He has turned down the chance of playing for Cape Cobras.

For some, it could also be about repaying faith. The Kings XI Punjab pair of David Miller and George Bailey has picked their IPL side over Hobart Hurricanes and Dolphins respectively. Bailey, who was purchased in last year's player auctions, was made the skipper while Miller was one of the players retained by the side from the 2013 edition. An exciting brand of attacking cricket and a runners-up finish seems to have convinced the duo to take a shot at the bigger trophy.

While the 'home' teams of most of these players seek consolation in the $150,000 compensation they get for every player of theirs who chooses to represent the IPL franchise, all roads seem to lead to India as far as T20 cricket is concerned.