‘Aise treat karte hain defending champions ko?’ – Fans react as Jonny Bairstow voices frustration over marathon 38-Hour journey for ODI World Cup in India

England Cricket team have arrived in India on September 29 for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 and they will be playing the inaugural match of the tournament against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. However, England’s journey to India was not so wonderful as one of the players expressed his disappointment.

England’s veteran batter Jonny Bairstow’s recent comments about the arduous 38-hour journey to India for the ODI World Cup have ignited a wave of reactions among many fans. Bairstow expressed his frustration at the lengthy travel duration, shedding light on the challenges faced by the England team.

The 34-year-old cricketer posted an Instagram story of the England team and its members on his account. He characterized the journey as incredibly disorganized, stating, “Last leg incoming… been some trip,” and concluded with a laughing emoji, and he noted, “38 hours and counting…” Nevertheless, England reached India on September 29th.

England to play a warm-up match against India

The journey, spanning over 38 hours, can undoubtedly take a toll on players’ physical and mental well-being. Fans on social media platforms have been quick to react, with some expressing empathy for the players’ taxing travel experiences, while others debate the impact such journeys can have on team performance.

The English side recently clashed against the Blackcaps in a 4-match ODI series where they defeated the Kiwis 3-1. They also won the recently concluded ODI series against Ireland. The 2 back-to-back series wins must have boosted the confidence of all players before heading into the ODI World Cup. England will also play a warm-up match against India, however, it is expected that most of the key players are likely to avoid the match.

England squad: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.

Here’s how fans reacted: