World Cup 2015 : India in cruise control mode

If Team India were a corporate entity, then their mantra would be 'Work Hard, Party Harder'.

A salient feature of their World Cup campaign has been the intensity with which they are training, playing and, well, resting. Monday was Labour Day in Western Australia. And MS Dhoni & Co. couldn't have chosen a better occasion to engage in a day-long recreational outing to the picturesque Margaret River Region located some 250 km from the team hotel in the heart of Perth.

The Margaret River Region is spread across 100 km. It has a stunning coastline, majestic forests and fertile farmlands. Famous for its wines and waves, the region is now a foodie's delight. From 'handmade chocolate' to 'artisan cheese', patrons can have it all.

The entire contingent — 15 players and as many members of the support staff, except the bereaved head coach Duncan Fletcher — left the Hyatt Regency around 9:00 am. Clad in casual wear, the players were seen carrying backpacks on their way out of the hotel. And when they returned, almost 13 hours later, they were sporting beachwear.

With three wins in three games, the team can afford to have a ball. After landing in Perth on February 23, the boys enjoyed a couple of days of rest before hitting the ground for an intense fielding session. The following day, they took it easy by spending the day indoors. They made up for it by taking to the nest on the eve of the match against the UAE.

A similar pattern has been visible since. After thrashing the minnows by nine wickets on Saturday, the boys took Sunday and Monday off. Tuesday is a designated training day with Wednesday set to be another rest day. The team will then hit the nets in right earnest on Thursday, the eve of their fourth Group 'B' match against the West Indies.

Paddy Upton, who was the mental conditioning coach of the team at the 2011 World Cup, praised the team's approach. "Yes, to me that's very smart approach. It helps them remain fresh," the South African told dna. "It's important that the players enjoy themselves. It helps break the monotony. We must realise that they have a monotonous and busy calendar," added the renowned cricket coach and motivational speaker who also coaches the Rajasthan Royals and Sydney Thunder teams.

Dhoni & Co. weren't exactly in the pink of spirit during and after the Test series. Bearing the brunt of the fans as well as the media for a fruitless tour, they needed to freshen up before the start of the World Cup. By managing to keep their kit bags away for a week, the boys charged their batteries. And three matches into the World Cup, they have done so again. After all, bigger challenges await them.

Upton recalls the 2011 edition that was played in India. The players were obviously under great pressure, but the presence of friends, family and a huge support base saw them through. This time, they are away from the "madness", but that doesn't mean it's going to be a cakewalk.

"Playing away from home is as much an advantage as it is a disadvantage. You are also away from friends, family and the support base. One (situation) isn't better than the other. It's just depends on how you manage it," he says.

After being away from home for more than three months, Team India have finally cracked the code. Or so it seems.

DHONI's TAKE

What we're doing is dividing the workload, trying to practice on alternative days. Three days of high-intensity practice is better than six days of mediocre practice

When you're constantly playing cricket, what matters more than net sessions is rest, especially when you're playing a long series. Being mentally fresh is very important

We're mixing it. Even an off day is only an off day on the field. We do gymnasium or pool sessions or try to play a bit of tennis – all these things to keep ourselves fresh