2007 is a distant memory

September, 2007 : A bunch of young Indian men touched the shores of South Africa to explore the uncharted territories of T-20 cricket, the latest experiment with the Gentlemen’s Game. In a format, where the power hitters were supposed to bulldoze the hapless bowlers, an inexperienced team, playing without the trinity of Indian Cricket, under a new captain, was hardly a contender. Two weeks hence, they were the champions.

May, 2010 : The boys in blue are beaten black and blue, once again, and they crash out of the World Cup. As the team heads back home, questions are raised about the players’ commitment, technique, fitness levels and attitude. While the media is busy finding the culprits behind Team India’s unceremonious exit, it’s time to accept that the Cup is not coming back this year either.

Within a span of 30-odd months, we have transformed from being the hunters to the hunted. In 2007, we looked fresh and young; In 2009, we looked tired and jaded. In 2007, we looked hungry for success; In 2007, we could see our star cricketers trying to hide their potbellies. In 2007, the runs flowed, the ball spun and swung, the fielding sparkled; In 2009, we were a distant second in all departments of the game, irrespective of the opponent.

So, what went wrong? Well, let’s go back to 2007. T-20 cricket had just announced its arrival back then. Ignored by the purists, who labelled it as sheer entertainment and not sport, T-20 cricket was a new and different challenge for the modern-day cricketers, who were yet to understand the needs and nuances of the format. This worked to India’s advantage, since they started on a level footing with the rest of the world, despite playing with a young, inexperienced unit. And the young team ensured fresher, fitter, faster legs, many of whom were playing their first World Cup. There was a general feeling that this game belongs to the booming batsmen and the bowlers’ task was to prevent the flow of runs. As the tournament progressed, the Indian performances peaked, as the team focussed on basics, with an even contribution from the batsmen and the bowlers. In a puzzle, where most of the teams were struggling to fit in the right pieces, India got its combination right. And didn’t that work!

Suddenly, T-20 became the talk of every Indian town (and village, for that matter). The newest trophy offered by the ICC erased the bitter memories of the 50-Over World Cup played earlier in the year. T-20 was now viewed and discussed with greater respect and hailed as the Future of the Game. Cricket administrators in India were quick to notice the potential the game offered and hence emerged the Indian Paisa League. Soon. India became the biggest promoter of T-20 cricket.

While all this was going on, the other teams were slowly moving up the ladder; India’s winning streak came to an end when it was thrashed at the MCG by the Australians. Later, the kiwis defeated us 2-0 at their home. This was a phase, when we were doing exceedingly well in the longer versions of the game, and the dip in the T-20 did not catch anyone’s eye; Even if it did, it was seen as an aberration and not a trend.

We went to England in 2009 as firm favourites to retain the trophy. IPL, a brand name in itself by now, had apparently made us battle-ready. As it turned out, that was not the case. The most explosive batting line-up in the world crumbled under a barrage of short deliveries fired at them by their oppositions. The same batsmen who were churning sixes from their willows during IPL-2 (ironically staged in South Africa) seemed clueless when the ball zoomed past their noses and helmets. The age-old bouncer, which had been the bane of Indian batsmen back in the 80’s and 90’s, born and brought up on flat, low-bounce wickets, , was back to haunt them again. India had been caught unawares. And we paid the price for it.

It’s said that lightning never strikes twice at the same place. In India’s case, however, it did. The pattern of our downfall in the Caribbean was the same as that in England. And that’s what hurts. There were lessons to be learnt in England 2009, and we had enough time to learn them. But, we didn’t. The batsmen made the same mistakes, and lesser we talk about the bowling and fielding, the better. Since 2007, one can observe a stagnation that has creeped into the team, and that’s why we stand where we are today.

The tongues of the Indian Cricket fans are busy wagging. All over India, people are busy discussing the root cause of this disaster. The IPL (including the parties), that all of us enjoyed prior to the World Cup is now under scrutiny and facing severe criticism. A captain, who was the apple of everyone’s eye just a few weeks back, is now seen as arrogant, stubborn and unwanted. Being a primarily one-sport nation, where the game’s passion knows no boundaries, most of the reactions follow a predictable trend (Remember the burnt effigies or the blackened walls of the players’ homes?). While most of them are uncalled for and should be plainly ignored, it’s time we acknowledge we were just not good enough and the officials must address the concerns that Indian cricket is facing right now. We, the Indians, are an optimistic lot. Whatever be the mood of the nation right now, come 2011, an expectant nation would hold its breath and pray for the cricketing glory that has eluded us since 1983. Hopefully, we would be ready this time.