Tired? Drink Pepsi Dhoni. Or else make way for Youngistan

By John Cheeran
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is smart, and he is bold to initiate again the debate on too much cricket. And this is for the first time an Indian captain admitting is confessing during a press conference that he and his team is tired. Tired?
And how old is he? He does not yet belong to the tired trinity of Indian cricket.
Pepsi executives must be greatly worried after that candor from the leader of youngistan. So after all, the fast bowler rascals are catching up with Dhoni.
Dhoni, of course, has a point when it comes to scheduling of the matches is concerned. Back-to—back matches are a strain even if you are only playing Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
But then won’t you die for India on cricket field, if it comes to that? At least that’s what the impression that is given to cricket watchers like me.
Of course, skipper Dhoni is speaking for his players. He is standing up for his team mates. But then, boys, cricket is all about making money than runs and wickets. And making money can, at times, be a little hard.
Too many matches and a vast and passionate cricket nation such as India should be able to handle it. There are many Dhoni’s waiting in the wing. End of the day it is a question of choice. If you are tired, you can inform the Board of Control For Cricket in India and take a break. Let open the doors for others.
The point is that international schedule is known way ahead and you could easily stay away from farces such as Kitply Cup. It is easy to pillory the BCCI for holding too many matches, but then players are complicit in the affair.
Yes, I agree that the BCCI should handle the talent pool it has with care, not using cricketers as contracted labour to enhance its cash reserve.
But, then, players should exercise their right to live, rather than just complaining about too much labour out in the middle. In the current episode, Dhoni could have stayed away from the joke of a tournament in Bangladesh after the excess of the Indian Premier League.

And in Asia Cup itself, what was the need for Dhoni to play against Hong Kong? He could have chilled out in the dressing room, and let Yuvraj Singh lead the side. With this kind of hectic scheduling, the trick is to rotate your players. Give others a chance. There is some element of risk involved in giving others a chance. They, the outsiders, may even steal your thunder, and those who are taking a vacation would find it tough to get in again. There is name for that in life. Competition. Everyone should sort this out.
I, for one, would have fewer Tests and one-dayers for it would have increased the intensity of cricket on view. Cricket, for that matter any sport, should be something that you could look forward to rather than like a sunrise. With only a few countries to spar with, contemporary cricket has reached the depths of boredom.
Now the point is that it is not just Dhoni and his team mates who are tired. The spectators, the television watchers, too are bloody tired watching you folks every day and night. Bring on new lads. Make way for the next wave. Refresh cricket.