The good news for millions of Indians fans is the fact that Indians are still in reckoning for the title in the ongoing tri series inspite of a shocking  loss to hosts Zimbabwe.  If all the three teams finish their league campaign with 2 wins each and India finish in the top two on run rates.India can qualify for the finals and an Indian win in the final cannot be ruled out.

However the most important thing question is does India deserve to reach the finals leave along winning the title.  If the loss to Zimbabwe in the tournament opener was a upset, then the way they got thrashed at Harare Sports Club on 3rd June 2010 proved that the current Indian team is much more weaker than Zimbabwe who without a shadow of doubt is the weakest among all test playing nations.

What is more alarming for India is not the loss but the margin of the losses.  In the first encounter Zimbabwe comfortably chased 280 plus and in the second encounter Zimbabwe literally thrashed India with 70 deliveries to spare.  Beating a Indian team with more than 10 overs to spare is equivalent to a World Cup given their current form and reputation and international cricket. Another thing which is going to hurt badly for India is the fact that they lost consecutive matches to Zimbabwe and both of them convincingly.

As far as the Indian team is concerned the alarm signs were there since a very long time but that was not noticed when Indians were  on a winning spree.  The problem always has been weak bowling and more importantly selection and retention of mediocre bowlers inspite of repeated failures.  The bowlers got away with poor performances because they were given the luxury of defending huge scores when Indians bowled second and they knew for a fact that even if they conceded 300 plus bowling first, the team had batsmen who could chase it down.  Now with the cream of batting battling injures and being rested in the ongoing tri series it has been a different ball game altogether for the bowlers.

There have been too many selection blunders in picking up bowlers for the ongoing tri series.  After dropping/resting tried and tested mediocre bowlers like Nehra and company, the selection panel have gone for below average bowlers like Dinda and company who have hardly done anything to merit a place in the team while bowlers of the calibre of Agarkar are wondering why they do not even stand a chance to get picked even for a second string Indian team.


Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.

No comments