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Team India, despite all the hype and expectations, failed to beat Australia even once on their just-ended tour Down Under.
On the contrary, the co-hosts, having already got the measure of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men in the Test matches and the tri-series, thrashed them in Sydney, abruptly ending the Men in Blue's World Cup defense.
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com looks at the lighter side of things of India's dismal tour.
Four months. No wins.
That's Team India's record against hosts Australia at the end of their long trip.
The 95-run thrashing in the World Cup semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground was the proverbial final nail in India's coffin.
- The Cricket World Cup: Complete Coverage
Since embarking on their trip Down Under late November last year, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co failed to beat their hosts even once in four months.
It is sheer irony, rather travesty, that Dhoni, after Thursday's semi-final defeat at the SCG, spoke about Australia having better awareness of the conditions.
Isn't four months good enough time to get used to conditions?
Team India began drawing both the practice matches. They went on to lose the opening two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide before drawing the next two in Melbourne and Sydney, thereby surrendering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Truth be told, the visitors were never in a winning position in either of the drawn Tests.
In the following Carlton Mid Tri-Series, that also involved England, the Men in Blue failed to win any of their four matches.
It was the World Cup warm-up game against Afghanistan that brought India its first win, two-and-a-half months after they had landed on Australian shores.
To their credit, the Men in Blue, defending champions at the quadrennial extravaganza, did take advantage of a weaker group and a favourable draw to win seven matches on the trot and reach the semi-finals.
This set up a highly-anticipated semi-final clash against the hosts and prompted talk from ever hopeful Indian experts and fans that their team has finally settled down and should get it past Australia on a favorable ground (Sydney).
No one heeded to the fact that India had won only one match in 14 at the venue.
What happened, we all know.
There's no shame in losing to a side that is superior to yours in all departments. However, the manner in which India surrendered, without putting up a fight, is shameful to say the least.
More so, because of the disgustingly demeaning ad campaigns that gave no other team a chance.
We won't give it back! Mauka mauka. Bleed blue. Remember?
It's the typical Indian lack of confidence that camouflages itself into overconfidence, and manifests into looking down upon other states at a micro level, and other countries at a macro level.
But there comes a point where you have to pay for your arrogance, even if it is manufactured.
Team India's failure to get it past Australia, in four months, is yet another testimony to the fact that hype may generate interest but cannot guarantee results.
Till the next time...
- Don't miss Uttam Ghosh's earlier illustrations
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