The rise and fall

Team India has been through one of its worst phases as they were dethroned by minnows New Zealand in the recently-concluded ODI series. The build up to the Kiwi series was also nothing good as the Proteas thrashed India in their own backyard.

It was for the very last time that the maestro was turning up for Team India. The climax to the glorious chapter in Indian folklore came with frenzied chants of 'Sachin, Sachin' that reverberated across the entire Wankhede Stadium on a sunny afternoon of November 16, 2013. Time was frozen for eternity when the entire cricket-mad nation gave a befitting farewell to their illustrious Bharat Ratna as he trudged his way into the pavilion and India had won the series against West Indies 2-0. Alas that delirious celebration did not result in any win-streak rather it gave it sort of created an inexplicable jinx that lasted all of 90 days. The subsequent win-draught lasted all of three months, a dubious distinction that one is better-off forgetting the torturous run.

In this period, Team India has been through one of its worst phases. The defending World champions were dethroned by minnows New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series. The build up to the Kiwi series was also nothing good as the Proteas thrashed India in their own backyard early in January. India were almost knocked off from the second spot in the Test series as well.

In the 90 days, India played three Tests and seven ODIs and the closest they came to success was a last-ball draw in the second match of the New Zealand ODI series. Unlike what many believed, Sachin was hardly a reason for India's failure. But in terms of batting, Virat Kohli did a brilliant job with his consistent performances and made sure that a semblance of order was restored in the line-up.

The biggest issue was the bowling, spin to be precise. India has always had quality spinners who fired more often than the pacers. But the last 90 days an Indian team without a good spinner. Harbhajan Singh was dropped owing to his poor performance. But 'effective' replacements came a cropper in the big ones. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was a disaster going wicket-less for almost the entire two tours. Ravindra Jadeja, who was preferred over Pragyan Ojha just for his batting abilities (which never came to India's rescue), has wickets to his name, but none of them came at the right time. He lacked the variation and the consistency that Ojha has, although the Hyderabadi is yet to be tested on the fast tracks abroad.

However, in comparative terms, they put up a better show than the pacers. Be it Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma, no one managed to impress. Ishwar Pandey looked good in the practice match against New Zealand XI just ahead of the Tests but then Indian think tank is notorious for not giving chances to such performers. Form takes a backseat in the Indian context where long-forgotten credentials get preference. None would vouch for this more than Ojha from the current crop. He has ended up as the perennial journeyman.

Shami Ahmed looked like the only composed bowler in the Indian attack. His performances stand testimony to that. But it is wrong to expect him to turn the tables in every match without equal support from the other end.

Amidst all this, questions were raised on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy. Subsequently, Dhoni picked up an 'injury' ahead of Asia Cup (Am I the only one smelling a rat here?).

Virat Kohli, who was the captaincy, led from the front to break the nightmarish draught. The nightmare appeared have ended. Alas, that was to be short lived as the Men in Blue were subject to a Sangakkara-inspired thrashing. The doubting Toms and their pointed questions are back in circulation because India next plays Pakistan in their third league match of the ongoing Asia Cup.

It is time for tough decisions and bringing about a balanced playing eleven. If things remain the way they are right now, another 2007 World Cup-like disaster awaits India in the 2015 World Cup.