ON THE ROPES: MEN IN BLUE-S

Batters’ inability to adapt to tricky conditions has been the general theme that has led to India being in a precarious position

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN MUM en

SURELY it wasn't supposed to be like this, no? This was going to be their big moment, 'repeat history, defeat history', like Rohit Sharma had said in an ad for the host broadcaster before the tournament.

Three days into the Super Eights stages of the World Cup, the Indian team are like outsiders, looking past the drawn curtains, hoping to catch a glimpse of the party they are co-hosting. How did it come down to this? Last Sunday against Pakistan at the R Premadasa, they were grand. What a difference a week makes, eh? Against South Africa at the new Motera, whatever they touched turned into fool's gold. That they partly contributed to it only added insult to injury as Washington Sundar's inclusion at the expense of Axar Patel didn't have the necessary impact.