Some things bigger than IPL

Part 6

Our batsman performed awfully in the first warm up match vs NZ. Hardik and Jadeja had a good partnership; Hardik got out in the 30s; then Bhuvi went out.

"You'll go next, Kuldeep," I said. I didn't have to make Yuzi bat today, but I did have to show determined support for Kuldeep.

"Ok," said Kuldeep, starting to put on his pads and helmet.

Bhuvi came back pretty quickly. I patted Kuldeep on his head as a vote of confidence. Yuzi winked at him.

"Bowling all rounder," he whispered, obviously referring to some inside joke of theirs.

Hardik caught Kuldeep at the top of the stairs and told him something. I couldn't hear what he said; Kuldeep nodded and went out to join Jaddu.

And Kuldeep actually batted well. On a difficult pitch where veteran batsmen like Shikhar, Rohit, MSD and myself had failed, Kuldeep was the 3rd highest scorer with 19.

Not a bad showing by a number 10 batsman.

Every single person in the team was pleased to see him do well, and no one hesitated to express it once Kuldeep came back as India's last wicket fell.

By the time the innings break had ended, Kuldeep was looking a lot more like his old self.

I desperately wanted him to bowl superbly that day. I don't care that it will be in a losing cause, because we had scored only 179; I just wanted Kuldeep to be all right again.

I don't even care about the Bhuvi-Shami dilemma. I kept giving Kuldeep overs.

He couldn't take a wicket, but his economy was decent at the end of his 8.1 overs when NZ won. No one else could take much wickets either, because the pitch had eased out and NZ had batted with caution anyway.

But I could see the effect of going wicketless once again starting to weigh on poor Kuldeep's conscience.

I have one match to make it all right.

One match.