While the latter are growing wonderfully well as a team, the downward slide in Indian cricket has only just begun. This slide comes to every team. Some more frequently than others. Some teams rarely go through it, but even if they do, they manage to come out of it very quickly, and unscathed. First it was the turn of Pakistan, after it's loss against Zimbabwe at home, then it was Sri Lanka's turn, and now it's India's.
Cricket is indeed a funny game, filled with irony.
Only a year back, India was on a high, riding the euphoric waves of success. It is incredible revelation to see just how much the Indian team depends on Sachin Tendulkar. It was always obvious that the Indians depended more on Sachin Tendulkar than any other player in the team. But to observe the meekness with which this team surrendered to Pakistan in the recently concluded matches, displays the magnitude of the burden that Sachin Tendulkar carries. Last year, when things were all rosy for Indian cricket, the man behind their success was Tendulkar.