India left the World Cup Down Under for one of the trans-Tasman neighbours to grab on Sunday. Humbled by Australia yet again on a tour long enough for our multimillionaire cricketers to become NRIs and save some income tax, Team India will return home chastened men, but not for long before the IPL elixir kicks in and the adulation of a cricket-loving population gets their spirits up again.
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Dhoni's men did not deserve to go to the summit. Their bowlers who worked up an exemplary strike rate and economy did not operate as if they believed in themselves anymore when up against Steve Smith, whose bat seemed impassable all southern summer. The Indians did not even try to unsettle him even if they did aim at his leg stump to try and beat the shuffle as wide as those seen in dance halls on a Saturday night.
(Photo: AP)
The Indian campaign was a good one up to the point that it unraveled in the chase after such a good start as provided by that part Aussie Shikhar Dhawan. Critics did not expect a lovely unbeaten run to the last four. To that extent, the laidback general had plotted splendidly, ignoring all the barbs and waiting for the big match temperament to return in time for the defence of the cup. If dreams were shattered at the end, the blame was partly on the fans' belief in Team India's invincibility.
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The bookies were least impressed by Dhoni's troops. The men who put their money where their mouth is are generally cooler and more calculating and they knew the game was up. India were never more than fourth favourites and were long shots in the semifinal. And yet they did well to curb Maxwell's capacity to create mayhem and were facing a not impossible target when sheer pace undid the likes of Rohit, Virat and Raina. The middle order was plucked out like chicken feathers leaving only the lone battler Dhoni.
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So reconciled to defeat did Dhoni appear -- on the field he seemed to slip into Test mode as he allowed his bowlers to contain rather than attack Smith who was on song and Finch who seemed to be batting on quicksand - that he did not seem interested in diving as Maxwell added insult to the injuries of the summer by running him out with a direct throw. Such an attitude on the big day told the tale of surrender.
(Photo: AP)
No one wants Dhoni to retire right now. He has a couple of useful years under his belt. The least he can do to contribute to rebuilding a young see is to pick more of an Indian team than a MSD XI. If he can cast his personal judgements and prejudices aside and try everyone with a merited claim he might help the cause a lot more. He was given a very long rope but it is time he used it to shape a team of the future.
Also, enough of digging up pitches in India to produce misleading results that make it look as if we are the world champions of the one-day game. Not anymore. It is time we played on normal pitches at home so that our players have to stretch to win games here rather than trot in to the winning post each time making bits-and-pieces men like Ravindra Jadeja look like Kapil Dev. When the crunch time to bat at No. 7 and bowl his spin, the man came a cropper. We don't envy his millions but let him earn his corn bill when he plays for India abroad too.
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The nucleus of a young side is here and apart from the eternal problem of finding a pace bowling all rounder, Team India have to learn all over again how to travel better and win key matches abroad too. The IPL gives them sufficient backing for them not to worry about anything else when they turn out for Team India. A more sustained effort straining every sinew when playing the big games might be good place to start the rejuvenation process.
