Turning up so regularly for international games is "hard on the body", especially if you are the team's first-choice opener and wicketkeeper; KL Rahul in saying so echoed skipper Virat Kohli's sentiments at the start of this New Zealand tour when he expressed his displeasure at Team India's cramped schedule. 

The players have been on the road since the World Cup in UK without any significant break in between to put their feet up because of the contentious FTP that was, as revealed by former COA member Diana Edulji, agreed upon by Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri themselves. 

Read Also: Edulji says Kohli himself had given green-signal to busy FTP schedule

"Every month we have been playing so many games. It is hard on the body so we have been working hard, to stay mentally and physically fit to keep putting up performances like this," Rahul told reporters after the fifth and final T20I versus New Zealand on Sunday (February 2). 

In the month of January alone, India took on Sri Lanka in three T20Is, then tackled Australia in a three-match ODI series before facing the Kiwis in four of the five games of another T20I rubber. 

There is no break in the calendar until the end of the IPL; it's an issue to be looked at seriously for the new BCCI regime led by president Sourav Ganguly. 

Meanwhile, for players like Rahul, the successful series against the Black Caps provided ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. 

"Every time we have been challenged and pushed, and played some really competitive teams. We have always stayed calm, that's been the biggest takeaway," he said. 

"Previously we had series where we would win the series and not be challenged. But the last few series have been really challenging for us."

The mighty Indian side prevailed 5-0 despite being tested in different situations. 

"It's phenomenal, it is a coach's and captain's dream, playing and working like this. We have a common goal as I said and we are working towards it," Rahul added. 

(Inputs from PTI)