Why is Nation Unfair to Dhoni ?

Could the outcome of the cliffhanger against South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday have been different had Dhoni given the last over to Bhajji instead of Nehra? Because India lost that World Cup tie, everyone from the so- called television experts to ordinary fans has been asking that question - and abusing the Indian captain for not preferring the off- spinner over the medium fast bowler. Defeat, surely, is an orphan. Okay, granted that we should not have lost that match.

But it was not lost in the last over that we bowled to the Springboks. No, India effectively threw the game away when its nine batsmen fell for a paltry 29 runs, not even allowing the side to play its full 50- over quota. That was humiliating, nay, disastrous. Also, there was no effective spinner to give Harbhjan company. The pace attack did not have penetration.

Above all, the middle order SA batsmen displayed better staying power than our uvrajs and Pathans, Rainas and Kohlis. So, it was not in the last over that we lost the plot. We were defeated in all departments of the game.

Unless we reenergize the team, drop a few duds like Piyush Chawla, and ensure that everyone plays responsibly, we can forget about playing in the World Cup Final in Mumbai next month. We do not deserve it on our current showing.

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