IN PICS: No powerplays, no strategic timeouts, Indian cricketers take in the sights
Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and other members of the Indian cricket team have had a hard time in the last six months — first toiling against the Kangaroos Down Under (Tri-Series), then the World Cup and within no time playing in India’s lucrative Indian Premier League.
(Photo: AP)
There’s no rest for Team India as a packed schedule awaits them that kicks off with the tour of Bangladesh (one Test, three ODIs) on June 10 and straight away they leave for Zimbabwe in July to play a bilateral series comprising three ODIs and two T20s.
Read: We are over playing players and are over performing them: Sports scientist Shayamal Vallabhjee
This is to be followed by a short visit to Sri Lanka to engage the island nation in a best-of-three Test series in August. The South African team is set to visit India in late September to play a series of four Tests, five ODIs and three T20 games that will keep the team occupied till the end of November.
And if that’s not enough, a possible series against Pakistan is also scheduled in December, as per the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP).
However, there’s a small window left open for Indian cricketers till June 7 to relax, raise their legs high and spend some quality moments with family, wives, girlfriends and loved ones. So what are the Men in Blue doing in the meanwhile? Let’s find out.
Suresh Raina
Going by his standards, India’s star all-rounder and Chennai Super Kings’ kingpin Suresh Raina didn’t have a great IPL this season, but that didn’t stop the newly married Raina to take off to Paris with wife Priyanka Chaudhary.
(Photo: Twitter)
The 28-year-old, who was instrumental in Team India’s resurgent World Cup performance, that saw Dhoni and Co ultimately exit the main event at the semifinals against Australia, was seen making the most of his time away from cricket with his better half.
Check out: Love blossoms in France for Suresh Raina and his wife
The two lovebirds absolutely soaked up the energy at Paris, and took to Twitter to share their moments with fans around the world.
Recent Pics of @ImRaina pic.twitter.com/gzVZnsR1dX
— Cricmates (@Cricmates) May 31, 2015Umesh Yadav
(Photo: Twitter)
He has really grown as far as his cricketing career is concerned, with a good IPL season and part of Team India’s leading bowling armoury, Umesh Yadav also was clicked spending time with wife Tanya. The couple recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
Read: ‘Umesh Yadav will be one bowler you can look up to’
Rohit Sharma
(Photo: Facebook)
It won’t be a surprise if Team India’s fan base is on the decline as most of the eligible bachelors in the team seem to be getting hooked, the latest amongst them – Mumbai Indians’ skipper Rohit Sharma, who got engaged to his manager and now finacee Ritika Sajdeh.
SEE IN PICS: Champions Mumbai Indians take Wankhede by storm
This time however, the ‘Hitman’, who played a vital role in his MI’s successful bid for a second IPL crown, was seen spending time with ‘man’s best friend.’
Ajinkya Rahane
(Photo: Facebook)
It would be difficult to describe the 26-year-old and one half of Rajasthan Royals’ opening pair Ajinkya Rahane’s journey in the recently-concluded IPL. Impeccable would be an understatement but this young talent and a bright prospect of Team India after a hectic past couple of months, was seen cooling his nerves on the beaches in the coastal state of Goa.
Parthiv Patel
(Photo: Twitter)
He did manage to impress quite a few at the IPL and provided good support to the high-flying Lendl Simmons and a satisfied Parthiv Patel decided to spend family time in Italy, seen in the picture along with wife Avni Zaveri and little daughter.
Read: Eight seasons, six teams – the story of Parthiv Patel
Wriddhiman Saha
(Photo: Twitter)
It remains to be seen whether Wriddiman Saha, who had a fair outing with Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia owned Kings XI Punjab, will find a place behind the stumps, if Dhoni wishes to take a break. With a good display of strokes, Saha’s hard work paid off and after the 47-day extravaganza, he took a trip to Mussoorie, a hill station in Northern part of India along with wife Romi and daughter.
Shikhar Dhawan
(Photo: PTI)
Southpaw Shikhar Dhawan was in fine form barring a few miss hits in the IPL, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. A key member in Team India, Dhawan along with wife Ayesha Mukherjee was seen spending some time at an NGO, interacting with underprivileged kids, which made for a good picture.
Read: I have had more failure than success: Shikhar Dhawan
Virat Kohli
(Photo: Instagram)
Team India’s star batsman and Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli however was seen spending some time not holidaying, but in the nets with his ‘obsession’. The swashbuckling batsman shared this picture on Instagram.
Check out: Rain brings good times for lovebirds Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma
MS Dhoni
(Photo: Facebook)
It looked like Team India’s skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in a nostalgic mood as he recently shared a picture from his younger days on Facebook.
Check out: Sakshi Dhoni avoids camera but reveals ‘Mahi’ tattoo
