Last time, when it came back fromthe T20 World Cup, the Indian team was deigned a reception fit for a 100 kings;this time, it is not even bothering to come home straight from the disaster inEngland. Thankfully.

The Blues Men are, of course, notattempting a quiet, backdoor entry; no, they are not even attempting avanishing trick: they are simply hopping across the Atlantic Ocean for a four-gameODI series against West Indies.

For all those joining the partylate, let the point be repeated: India’s problem lies in this mad scramble fromone corner of the earth to the other. The BCCI, in fact, can take credit forconverting a band of happy cricketers into a bunch of weary travelers.

Indeed, Team India has played somuch cricket already that it can go through the motions even in sleep. Andbelieve it or not, all those who felt they couldn’t do without their daily fixof bat and ball, are enthusiastically dabbling in other evils.

Maybe, it's just a sign of thetimes. The players now don't even have the space to absorb a defeat, feel thepain or look for balms; it's already time to move on, to think of anotherconquest, another opponent. Sadly, they can't even complain or do anythingabout the overkill.

The Big Brother has alreadyannounced its verdict: if you are tired, just raise your hand and we will dothe needful. The threat, however, followed in the next line itself: You cantell us when you are ready next, and if you are fit and there is place in theteam, we will pick you.

As a repartee, Rohit Sharma waspromptly installed as opener. Thankfully for Sehwag, the latter faltered afterthe initial rushes; otherwise, even he would have struggled to straightawayreclaim his position, at least in Twenty20 games.

Yes, finally, Dhoni finds himself inthe same boat that every player has to ride at least once in his career. Attimes, he will wonder if it's all slipping out of his fingers, if it had allbeen a dream. He will wonder if he can go back to the same exalted position andset things right again.