Indian dreams wrecked by bullets and bombs

From the Sunday Times.

MARCH 23, 2007 was perhaps the most depressing day in Indian cricket history. As Sri Lanka romped to a 69-run victory that booked India’s early passage home from the World Cup in the Caribbean, an era seemed to be over. The team that had reached the previous World Cup final and gone toe-to-toe with Australia in Test matches in the new millennium looked jaded, bereft of ideas and out of sync with the demands of the modern game.

Within a few months, though, the same nucleus of players had won a Test series in England and followed it up with a thrilling triumph in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup. In that time, the leadership also changed hands, with Rahul Dravid resigning and Mahendra Singh Dhoni taking charge. Anil Kumble was asked to shepherd the Test team but it was understood that Dhoni would take over when the time was right.

Read the full article here.

Comments

[Punit]

Some things are more important than money. That should be self-evident now, of all times.

I'm proud of India's growing position of strength, but it is her spirit and dignity which have always been her greatest assets - not her material wealth. Money comes and goes - as India knows. Smacking a wedge of dollar bills on the table doesn't ever, in itself make one right, even if it has an unfortunate habit of winning arguments. Let's learn from our own history and not that of other nations. To that end, I'm very disappointed in some of the points being made here.

There is a responsibility to cricket as well as to human decency. We're all very brave when asked hypothetical questions, aren't we?

[neilsrini]

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/indveng/content/current/story/380230.html

this is a great insight into the mind of Harmisson (I wont say anything more) and the thinking of the team. It really should be a decision for each man to make for himself but if the security forces and boards agree then they should be given the option to tour. It may be a way back in to the side for the likes of Vaughn, Key and an opportunity for Denly. On their performance so far England were always going to get trashed in a 1993 fashion anyway but a few brave souls who do turn up might be able to make an opportunity for themselves.

[neilsrini]

We are more like cricket's answer to Barcelona than the dour and dismal Chelsea. Dileep. Financially we are more akin to the great Man Utd, the most popular team in the world.

You are right though. Just as we were beginning to dream of greatness that we thought only our grandchildren would see. Just as the toil of greats, who laid the paving stones for the the future to walk on, was about the bear fruit. The rug has been pulled from under our feet. The champions league should have been the celebration of Indian cricket as a force and financial powerhouse. It should have been the curtain opener to a year that should see this side as world no.1 this time next year.

Now who knows.

[Yogesh]

After being used to earning in millions due to India, will the other countries be ready to accept pay-cuts so easily ? We'll see the financial powerplay now. India with the help of Pakistan and Sri Lanka is capable of earning profits but surely at reduced margins. And needless to say Pakistan and Srilank would jump at it. The problem is for the Poms, Aussies etc as their profit margins can suffer heavily without Indian audience.