For India’s leading cricketers, the six-week IPL provides some relief from the weight of representing the hopes of a billion people when they are on national duty.
No doubt, when all is going well, it must feel like a non-stop party.
The lavish financial rewards on offer, however, create a heavy burden to perform and, despite India’s cricket mad populace being split into eight for this competition, there is still a big chunk of people to satisfy.
When it goes wrong, there are few places to hide – even when the tournament is in exile in the UAE.
Mumbai Indians, for example, have to keep the 13 million people on their doorstep happy, as well as the sundry fans they have who are not necessarily geographically tied to them.
Added to that are the pressures of being defending champions, as well as the demands of passionate owners who have lavished much wealth on their recruitment drive.
Looking across the breakfast room at the Oberoi hotel and realising you have to live up to team mentors Sachin Tendulkar (34,347 runs in international cricket) and Anil Kumble (956 international wickets) must be daunting, too.
So four defeats from four is a less than ideal way to start the title defence.
“Of course it is very disappointing when you go out of the hotel, people looking at you, asking you why you are not winning,” Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai captain, said on Monday.
“The four games we have played, it was not our day. We still can change things.
“We were very much in a similar position in the first year of IPL. We lost our first four games, then won six out of the next six.
“I still feel like we can do that. Once we finish this Dubai leg and go back to India, playing in familiar conditions, where our guys know how to bat, I hope we can do it. We just want to stay positive.”
While Mumbai’s under-performers were warming up ahead of their most recent outing against Delhi in Sharjah on Sunday, Tendulkar was also milling around his one-time playground.
Wearing black trainers, shorts and a Mumbai Indians T-shirt and cap, he looked as though he had not a care in the world as he sent down some off-breaks on the edge of the square. The contrast to the uptight players was marked.
His presence is definitely a help, according to Rohit. “There are a lot of young, inexperienced players in the team, so obviously Sachin being around helps a lot because he knows this game really well, he has played for so many years,” Rohit said.
“His presence around the team really helps. Whenever advice is needed he comes and provides it. That is very important because when he talks you can feel something is happening. We are lucky to have him.”
The captain is confident his side will relocate the winning habit as soon as they return to their home comforts of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
First, though, they have one last chance to break their duck in the UAE when they face fellow strugglers Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on Wednesday.
“I understand a loss makes a big disappointment in the group but at the end of the day I know we are a good team,” he said.
“I hope we can still change things around. We don’t want there to be too many different thoughts within the team, we want to hunt as a group and charge towards the title.”
Kieron Pollard, their West Indian all-rounder, said the side were well aware of their responsibility to the supporters.
“I know people want Mumbai Indians to win, there’s pressure, but we are human beings and individuals,” he said.
“We are trying different things, it’s just not happening. We are not doing a good job on the field. We have to work hard and go out and give our all – that’s all you can ask for.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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