The Durban defeat was perhaps understandable; the Newlands cave in was completely inexplicable.
Victories and defeats come in cycles, yes; this is essentially the same Indian team that, just twelve months ago, was rewriting record books with 18 consequtive successful chases, yes.
But there was about the second ODI a signal that should set alarm bells pealing at deafening decibel levels: a team that can get the opposition down to 76/6, then let it off the hook so completely that it goes on to lose the game, is a team with problems that go beyond temporary loss of form.
But what is that problem? It is a question for which there have been precious few answers. What needs to be done to stop the slide? The BCCI chief thinks it is enough to send chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar to South Africa to deliver a stern message.
Is there all there is to it? Or is there a step, or series of steps, the team needs to take in a hurry in order to reverse its fortunes?
If you were BCCI boss for a day, a week, what would you do? Tell us.
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