Mumbai: They were heroes till they went to UK and Australia in 2011-12, and returned Monday, March 5, discredited and disgraced, as former World Cup Champions of 2011.

They had a whitewash in England, conceding the top rank in Test cricket to Englishmen, 5-0. Then they went to Australia, again to be beaten 4-0 in Tests, and no win in ODIs and given a return ticket home in Triangular cricket of 50 overs against Sri Lanka and Australia, who are still playing the finals, when Indians reached their Indian homes in shame.

There was no fight from beginning to end in UK and Australia, by India.

Its World Cup Win in early 2011 was forgotten, under IPL-4 clumsy cricket later for money.

Then, the Australian tour for months took them to the bottom. There was not one name which could be and exception in the utter disaster, all names were done in: Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Jadeja, Dhoni, Zaheer, Ashwin, Raina, or anyone else-all  were tested and found short.

They also quarreled, they rotated, they tried all tricks with bat and ball, they argued with umpires and crowds, and were thoroughly exposed, for climbing the Everest and Jumping down into snow pits.

Their egos were thoroughly pinched and they howled, and carried on cold wars in captainship, like local politicians over CM’ship.

And then, they returned with their wives and baggage home.

Even selectors were harmed. Let us forgive them all.

Sachin Tendulkar never hit that 100th century abroad. He lost over 25 times to hit a century when he was in 90s, from 91 to 99 run out.

Actually, his 125th century should have been expected, and not the 100th by the venerable sports column-writers in India, and overseas.

The captainship was taken away from Sehwag, as Virat Kohli was groomed as captain by appointment as the Vice-captain, in place of Sehwag or Gambhir. No news of Raina or Yuvaraj Singh. No leading bowler either. R. Ashwin came the closest in a team.

The Indian selectors will have to begin again to form a team, by putting Dhoni behind Wickets and not in front, like virat kohli. Have some new guys tested among top 20 in India, from any state, even Pondy or Andamans. Ponting came from and isle, outside Australia, was it Tasmania?