Raju Korti
Drink has never made a man better, but it has made many a man think he was better. In today's times when drinking is no big deal, not even a social evil as puritans would have us believe, it is believed to be an indulgence for all occasions including those patently contradictory. People are known to down a few in both high and low spirits, if you will excuse the pun. Most of us will recall the rib-tickling Kishore hit of the mid-70s "Peenewaalonko peene ka bahana chahiye.." Of course, what one does with alcohol as long he is unto himself and what in public are two different issues. Indian pacer Praveen Kumar who was unceremoniously thrown out of the IPL in 2017 after what was believed to be a promising career, is a case in point.

In a recent interview, Praveen Kumar, wittingly or unwittingly referred to as PK, laments that he never got the due he the due he deserved -- as a coach, mentor as one of the main reasons why teams in IPL chose not to offer him such roles was the "misinformation about his addiction to alcohol." PK, of course, admitted that he did drink but his brilliant argument was "Did I drink on the ground or open the bottle in the dressing room"?

The 37-year-old seamer, much appreciated for his prodigious swing than pace, said everyone around consumed alcohol regularly but he was singled out for sermons on the evil effects of alcohol. If it didn't push him into depression, the hypocrisy and prejudice did that he found the solace of Haridwar more soothing than the adrenaline rush of the cricketing ground. PK's spells with the new ball won India best-0f-the three finals against Australia and for the next couple of years, he was Dhoni's main weapon in white ball cricket. Perhaps his best came against England where he scalped 15 wickets and etched his name on the Lord's Honours Board. 

There is no way knowing whether PK indeed drank on the ground or in the dressing room but it is an open secret most players, Indian and foreign drink like fish, if not on the field or in the dressing room, elsewhere. Aussie David Hookes dies after a drunken brawl outside a pub, Vinod Kambli ruined what would have been a career almost as good as Sachin Tendulkar because of his drunken hijinks. There are many who get away with impunity. A commentator can be heard mumbling and spouting more than what propriety would permit in his broken Bambaiya Hindi. 

I could write a book on the antics and indiscretion of many sportspersons after having one too many. All is excused and forgotten with good performances on the field. As a schoolboy I vividly remember how almost the entire Indian Test team under Nawab of Pataudi, was sozzled during the Nagpur Test against the New Zealanders led by Graham Dowling. Ajit Wadekar dropped a skier but his feet wobbled and hands shook violently as he dropped it, The spectators were more amused than angry. Rusi Surti ran towards deep fine leg when the ball had been hit towards mid-wicket. The piece de resistance was wicket keeper Farrokh Engineer came crashing down from the stairs of the Bilimoria Pavilion and none one had a clue in heaven or hell what made him clamber up those. The newspapers and journalists covering the match had put two and two together but the spectators had already caught on to that disastrous but hilarious reason.

Those were different days as financial stakes were not too high and the entire issue was given a decent burial with a hearty cackle.               

Cricketers live a lavish lifestyle and it is no secret. While a few flaunt their wealth with cars and outfits, there have been a few who went the wrong way. Cricketers like Ricky Ponting and Monty Panesar did get addicted to alcohol. There have been many instances when the players have been banned for a match or two with regards to alcoholic incidents. Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Monty Panesar, Jesse Ryder

Why not!! They earn decent amount, they are humans, they also have personal life. But since they are celebs and people specially young cricketers follow them and see them as inspirational figure so to avoid bady image they don't do it publicly.
As you can see KL Rahul is holding a beer bottle and BCCI advised him to delete this photo.

According to a report on The Hindu, the BCCI shot off an advisory to the Indian team.

"Some of the BCCI officials aren't happy with players posting such images on social media. There has been no written communication, but the manager has been asked to send a message to the players to ensure that nothing that could set a bad example should be posted online," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

Ishant, Tendulkar and Yuvaraj

All the cricketers are not advised to take alcohol during a cricket match . In some countries like India the spectators are not allowed drinking alcohol in stadium,5 states in India ban the alcohol in their territory . But in Australia, New Zealand spectator are allowed drinking in stadium .

As to talk about players there are few incidents in past showing that some players take alcohol during the match .There is a incident of Shane warne during 2009 IPL match in Durban where he could be seen fielding near the boundary rope and a took a sip of wine offered to him by a fan. There is video clips of that incident on YouTube.