I tend to agree with you having worked with IBM's global consulting services and their workforce in both India and Brazil many moons ago.

While in theory, it may sound like you could have around the clock hands-on-keyboard time by having folks in India, it's more advantageous to have people work in similar time zone if it is joint development work.

I do have to say, when there are important soccer matches though, developers in Brail were... a bit harder to reach. no joke. lol.