It is difficult to understand why the BCCI and the former panel of captains is blaming the endorsements for the debacle in the World Cup. It’s not like the players were shooting adds when in the Caribbean! As is the norm with most things Indian, regulation has been called for and the BCCI has even been asked to check into some clauses the players may sign up for. This is primarily to ensure there are no performance-based incentives for players offered by sponsors.
 
Getting practical, however, both the coach and captain have accepted responsibility for the loss and it is now clear that it was planning and execution that went wrong! Of course, hindsight is an exact science and no awards for now getting it right! The real reasons for the debacle are mental fragility and lack of skills that keep in tune with changes in the way cricket is played.
 
Elaborating on these two points, it is clear that the Indian team is not strong enough mentally and has often in the past broken down at key moments to lose matches. But in the Caribbean, they never seemed like they were even prepared for the grind that lay ahead. Maybe this had something to do with the fact that the players were shooting endorsements until they left Indian shores, but wasn’t there a camp then? It’s about the BCCI putting in safeguards and checks to ensure the players don’t overdo their money chasing.
 
About the second point, it has been well documented that India has never been a good fielding team. Now they are below average and inferior to even newcomer teams like Ireland and Canada! Even Bermuda pulled off a stunner against India, remember? But India has never looked like improving and if you ask us, endorsements have little to do with this. It’s all to do with the fact that it was never impressed enough upon them that fielding is important. Maybe a sponsor should do that!
 
The fact is that the grassroots system in India is in a mess and obviously, therefore, the products coming out of it are equally sub-standard. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid all had talent (note the use of ‘had’) and were ready to work hard to ensure it translated into something more. The newer crop don’t seem as hungry and if they are not hungry, send them packing.
 
Dilip Vengsarkar is right when he says he needs a pool of 25-30 players to choose from. It’s more to show those in the 11 (or 15) that their places are not permanent. The change needed is bottom-up. Will the BCCI get its hands dirty?