While the Indian cricket team gears up for the World Cup, the student community seems to be batting on a sticky wicket with annual exams and the Cup euphoria clashing.

As parents and students seem worried about the game intruding into the study routine and fear that it may reflect in a slide in marks, psychologists say it might indeed be a good thing.

"The exams have spoilt the cricket fun. It has been a total mismatch. If the exams were conducted earlier, we could have at least enjoyed the later stages of the Cup namely super eight onwards," says Shashank Nair, III year, Economic (Hons), whose exams are scheduled to start from April onwards.

With the class X and class XII board exams finishing on March 22 and April 5 respectively, school students seem to be relieved. "My maths paper is on March 22 and the next is only on April 4 meaning which I would have ample of time to catch up with cricket. Moreover, the real World Cup would start only after April," says Varun, class XII student.

So, it seems, the college students are left in lurch as the university exams are scheduled to start only in April and that too when the Cup fever would be at its peak.

"I am more interested in watching the cricket match. Moreover, the matches take place only in the evening and one has the entire day to study. How can I compromise on cricket," asks Summit Rajora, BA Pass, student of the Delhi University.

Parents seem to worry the most when it comes to exams and cricket. "When the date sheet were announced, my son and his friends were more worried about which match they can watch and which they cannot. Exams were never in their perspective," says Vinodhini Kumar, whose son is currently preparing for his final year exams.

But, psychologists do not seem to be bothered about the World Cup and exams clashing with each other. "It is actually a good thing. Students are very busy with their preparations and world cup news is a very good change here. I feel there is nothing wrong. Watching cricket in between their studies help the students to stay connected with the society. But, I only hope that no clash of cricket titans like India-Pakistan match coincides with exam dates," says Prof. Aruna Broota, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi.

No matter, what the exams are, students seem to be determined to stay connected with World Cup updates. "Even though my exams are scheduled for early May, the preparations have to start yet. But with World cup extending till April end, I will end up compromising on cricket as well as on studies. Moreover, since I have already been placed, I can afford to be a little lax about the studies," says Bhanu Sharma, 3rd year computer engineering student.

Others unlike Bhanu have come out with innovative measures to get glued to the cup. "Since, I cannot watch the entire match as it goes on till wee hours, I would watch the first innings. However, I would listen to radio commentary through my ear phones and read at the same time," says Cijo Mathew, MA History, final year, University of Delhi.