So, who was batting at no.5?

Every time I think about New Zealand’s ongoing tour of India, a giant, almost idiotic smile creeps up on my face. Conversely, I’m sure that somewhere a New Zealander, typing away on his keyboard, frowns almost suicidally at the thought of the same event. After all, it’s been that sort of series, one that would make you laugh if you were seated on Indian soil or cry if you were on an island on which December is a summer month.

Despite India’s awesome performance in the ODI series there were still some people left frowning, like the Indian batsmen who never got a chance to play. © AFP

Thankfully, I wasn’t born on the other side of the equator and hence, took full advantage of the joys of this event, but yet, I couldn’t help but feel bad as well. And mostly for the young batsmen who’ve barely even gotten a chance to tear New Zealand to bits. Now, I was told that professional cricket was a team game but, in the case of the series so far, the batting department at least, was a three man show. Of course, the incredible performances of Gambhir, Vijay and Kohli have made the series demolition possible, but you have to feel bad for the rest of the squad, who apart from having a short stint in the first ODI, barely got a look at the batting crease.

It’s sad because Saha probably told his mom to look out for him in the second innings and Yuvi probably told each of his nine girlfriends that he’d hit a six just for them. Now after those last two matches I’m sure that Saha’s mom is in tears and the nine girlfriends probably had to be consoled with some pretty expensive jewellery. But there is a simple solution to all of this, for the next two games against New Zealand just start the batting from the bottom and finish the innings with the openers. That way everyone gets a chance to beat the stuffing out of the Kiwi’s.