India weren't outclassed for two-thirds of the match, as they were on this day four years ago when Ricky Ponting trampled them with sheer class in what was a World Cup final. For a clear understanding of the rhythm of this match, one will have to probably rewind a little earlier to the never-to-be-forgotten India-Pakistan clash at
Centurion. The first innings was played out on an elastic band and every time one team nudged ahead, the other came back to restore parity. For a steady hundred from Saeed Anwar, you had plucky half-centuries from Upul Tharanga and Chamara Silva; for Younis Khan's urgent 32, you had a busy 38 from Tillakaratne Dilshan; for Pakistan's 273, you had Sri Lanka's 254.

There the similarities end. Such games need an enforcer, someone who can overcome the strong forces of tension, impose himself on the big stage and steer the match in one direction. At Centurion, that man was Sachin Tendulkar; on Friday, it was Muttiah Muralitharan. It's one of the hardest roles to play, one that requires a touch of genius, but it's for that reason alone that these players are special. Today Tendulkar couldn't play that role - one can argue that he received a very good ball but the fact is he couldn't. Sourav Ganguly couldn't, Rahul Dravid couldn't. They weren't allowed to.

Sri Lanka's recent record against India is nothing short of woeful (winning just two of the last ten completed games) but on the day it mattered, they were on the ball. Chaminda Vaas taunted - his reflex caught-and-bowled off Robin Uthappa was exactly the early inspiration that Sri Lanka needed - before Dilhara Fernando, a late replacement, and Lasith Malinga hustled. Sri Lanka possess the most varied attack in the tournament - the hard graft from Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya combining explosively with the exotic offerings from Malinga and Murali. India were
bogged down by Vaas and pegged back by Fernando before Murali arrived, went round the wicket, unveiled offspinners, topspinners and doosras, made them spin at vicious angles, and took centrestage.

For Dravid, a nightmare was played out in front of him. Yuvraj Singh's run-out encapsulated India's panicky state and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's attempted slash simply left him pale-faced. Sehwag's dismissal was probably the most crucial - he was batting more confidently than he's done in recent memory and should have made the start count - but he too was mired by the Murali menace.

Dravid watched in shock as partners came and left before deciding, with the run-rate soaring, to go for broke. The four successive fours he crashed off Malinga stemmed from frustration, anger and hopelessness. He'd taken over a side and harboured hopes of turning them into hard-as-nails professionals; he'd ended with a most ignominious World Cup elimination.

Several questions need to be asked, including serious ones of Dravid and coach Greg Chappell, but the most galling aspect is that there doesn't seem to be any long-term vision, any honest appraisals. Indian cricket needs a massive overhaul (if a first-round exit doesn't instigate it,
nothing will) but the fact that it's unlikely to happen is even more disturbing. It's not the Indian board's motto yet, but as someone once famously said, "Money can't buy happiness but it can give you the kind of misery with which you can live comfortably."

What is required for the Indian Cricket team is these:
- no player can endorse commercial product.
- no more highly paid contracts. if you win, you get the money and if you loose, you dont get money.
- followers of crickets should stop purchasing products promoted by the current indian team.

if every player talks about passion and playing for nation, lets cut back on the monetary deals they have and see how many turn to practice??

we dont need talent, we need commitment.. the only player in the current team is Dinesh karthik, rest of the bunch dont care about winning.

India now need completely new thinking. I would rather dissolve the whole Indian team and re select only based on talents. Look Australia, so many famous players has to retire or sit aside to give chances to talents. Shane worne is left out !!!. Take Sri Lanka, Their original captain Attapathu was left out in preferance to Arnold who was also out of the squard for more than one year for poor performance. Indian selector should give up regional politics in the selection process and at least now they have to go from the grass level which infact force the so called cricket geniuses as well to keep in goodform.

they should play for their country, people who loves cricket more than anything. poor people are having fun out of this game but theese Players dont understand that, because they have money more than required. they dont care of their country or people. you let all of us down, shamfull. you stall our sleeep, you stall our happiness. you are all guilty and selfish.

In this world cup , indian team each individual players having a pack of talant. Specialy in batting line. It might be equalant the Aus. But the problem is each player are playing to secure the personal place in team. other than the Dravid each players are bit strugle to make the concrete position of the team. As a result of that whole indian team group cohisiunas is nill. It is clearly reflect on 2007 world cup.

Obviously something needs to change in India cricket. I think most people have known this for years, but not no one in power would confront the issue. Australia is obviously going through their cycle of power at the moment and some of the key differences I see between us and Indian cricket;

1) Sides are chosen on form, and not for short term Commercial preference. Big names in Australia are dropped or put under immense pressure when they are not playing well. I think it would be impossible to remove Tendulkar, even though he is clearly not at the level of his Indian team mates or anywhere near world class these days.

2) India appear to be more a group of individuals, versus a team unit. There doesn't appear to be pride in playing for your country. (I could well perceive this wrongly) But Aussies clearly value the baggy green much more than their contract value, where as I see the India team as a bunch of 'movie star' types. They may be gods in India, but to most that I have spoken to, India aren't any threat on the cricket pitch outside India. (In India is a great challenge) To be frank, in the last 30 years of watching Indian teams come to Australia, I see these tours as mere practice seasons and money spinners for when the real challenges are coming, like SA, England and past West Indies teams.

Come on India - lift your game.