India disgracefully bowed out of the World Cup 2007. It was not a surprise for many who had followed Indian cricket in recent times. The timing of exit is alarming. Unfortunately this was the last world cup for many Indian players who formed the nucleus of Indian cricket for the last decade. There will be a fact finding mission from BCCI into this debacle. But I think India failed in every department and also in dressing room. Greg Chappell is almost certain to be fired by the BCCI. My personal opinion is that Greg has an excellent coaching skillet but his plans were hijacked by internal politics which has marred Indian cricket for long. Indians especially the cricket players are not a disciplined lot, shown by lot of antics by star players in and out of the ground. Disciplining such experienced lot was I think the most difficult job Chappell had. One more area in which Indian cricketers failed was to rectify mistakes. Take example of Virendra Shewag, until recently he stated that there was nothing wrong in his approach only after dropping him in the series he accepted and did little bit correction which obviously was too little too late. I still think the current team was the best we had and no other player would have made the difference. Indians lacked sheer killer instinct in there approach right from the beginning and it culminated into disastrous situation. I think loss against Bangladesh was the worst moment for Indian cricket not because it was against Bangladesh but it started the world cup on wrong foot for India and they never recovered from that.
This was Sachin Tendulkar last world cup, even if he says that he can play again it looks real impossible. I have been a great fan of Tendulkar and still a fan even after his performance in the world cup. I think he can never peak to the heights he did in his young age. But Indian fans expect him to perform the same way he did few years ago. I think you have to adjust your expectation from any cricketer as he ages. Any cricketer or for that matter any human cannot perform consistently anywhere with same results. The most important thing is that Sachin should himself realize and play according. I think he is under too much pressure when he bats in recent times.
Whatever are the reasons for defeat. India should retrospect and take bold decision if they want to dominate world cricket any time sooner.
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