3 min readUpdated: Feb 24, 2026 08:37 PM IST There was a time when tours to India came with a quiet subplot for visiting teams from places like Australia and New Zealand: the food. Players would arrive prepared for spin, heat and packed stadiums, but many also carried caution about what might land on their plates. Stories from earlier eras often included upset stomachs, cautious diets and the occasional desperate search for familiar meals. Over the years, though, that narrative has largely faded. International teams now travel with nutritionists, chefs and carefully managed menus, and India’s hospitality infrastructure around cricket has evolved dramatically. Incidents involving food have become rare talking points rather than tour-wide concerns. Still, every now and then, one pops up – often with a touch of humour. On Tuesday, ahead of New Zealand’s T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka in Colombo, captain Mitchell Santner was asked whether he had been steering clear of fast food during the tournament. His answer hinted at a lesson learned earlier in the trip. …