A week ago the table-topping Kolkata Knight Riders finished one of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches against the Supergiants of Pune at the usual time of around 11.30pm, had a quick shower and returned to the team hotel shortly before 1am. Nothing unusual about that. Except that they were only there for an hour to collect hand luggage and order a club sandwich before the drive to the airport to catch the 3.30am flight back to Kolkata that landed at 6am. The VIP treatment reserved for the local IPL heroes often makes the trip through the Kolkata Airport arrivals terminal more difficult. By the time the players made it to bed it was well after 8am. They were playing again the following day. It was not a "normal" example of the playing and travel schedule. In fact, head coach Jacques Kallis described it as "a bit messy" but it was an example of the other-worldliness of the tournament, which is busier than before in 2017 having been compressed by the loss of a week from previous y...

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