A defeat and another almost defeat…that's been India's story in the weather affected DLF Cup tri-nation series in Kuala Lumpur recently. Sachin Tendulkar's 40th international ton has been a lone bright spot, but with nations feverishly getting ready for the world's most awaited quadrennial showpiece in March next year, former India Test opener and captain Sunil Gavaskar wonders if India is in the right direction. A TWF report by Tirtha Gautam

India's number five position in the ICC's current ODI rankings probably provides a mathematical update on the preparedness of the main title contenders for next year's World Cup in the Caribbean islands. Although the rankings may be debatable considering the fact the West Indies lie seventh behind Sri Lanka, arguably one bombshell of a one-day side in world cricket today, India's recent one-day record has been far from exciting. The ignominy of a 4-1 defeat in the West Indies in May-June and the current trend in the Kuala Lumpur series clearly reflects that all is not well with Greg Chappell's squad.

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One-day cricket has more often than not been a batsman's game. Specifically for India's case, where the bowling attack lacks either the penetration or experience to handle deliver, the performance of the batsmen becomes decisive. So if Chappell keeps tinkering with the batting order every now and then, his predicament is understandable. It's certainly not very comforting to see two of India's most reliable batsmen - Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid - walk out to face Brett Lee and McGrath and Irfan Pathan step in at No. 3 very early in the innings? In days of powerplays, it's logical when team management devices queer strategies to get the best out of an innings, but does that mean repeatedly throwing traditional and time-tested strategies out of the window?

Let's assume, there is no place in Dravid-Chappell's squad for a man who has scored 10,000 runs in one-day cricket, still regarded as one of the best off-side players in modern cricket and a mean arm with the semi-new ball, then has India found the players to replace the likes of Sourav Ganguly? If the legendary Sunil Gavaskar is to be believed in a current television interview, the answer is clearly "NO."

Modern cricket is a gamble. And modern cricket in India, no matter how much transparency the selectors claim, is not always factored by performances on the pitch. The political turmoil within the BCCI and in the guise of trying to pick the best combinations for the World Cup, the Chappell-Dravid-Kiran More troika has subtly used the conditions well. The enormous freedom, given to the team management to experiment with batting and bowling combinations, often mindlessly, has been considered as bold steps for the future of Indian cricket, but what happens when the results backfire? And here's where wise men like Gavaskar raise doubts.

Says Gavaskar, "It is fine to experiment but for how long? In the run-up to the World Cup, India will play a number of one-day matches and that's a great opportunity to decide on the core of the side that will be pivotal in the Caribbean but we have to draw the line somewhere as experiments can't continue eternally." While backing the experimentations in Kuala Lumpur, Sunny wonders whether India has been able to find the nub of the team for the World Cup. "And in my book, India is far from finding the nucleus as a number of positions are up for grabs and gambles don't always pay", the former batting consultant opines.

Sunny's observation is food for thought. Dravid's decision to open the innings may be a brave one but with the middle-order still fragile in terms of experience and men like Ganguly and VVS Laxman unlikely to find favour in the World Cup scheme of things, exposing likes of Suresh Raina, M.S. Dhoni and even the unpredictable Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh may be suicidal. Thus, India's opening combination still remains a problem area and with vice-captain Virender Sehwag's batting form as patchy as his pate, Chappell may have to explore more options.

"I can only see Sachin Tendulkar as an opener right now. It would be worthwhile to try Sehwag in the middle-order but opening remains a worry," Gavaskar says, adding, "There are a few more positions up for grabs like the No. 6/7 slots, the all-rounder's and even some bowling berths. We must keep our options open."

So, that's quite a tall order. Tendulkar gets Sunny's vote as an opener because "your best batsman, with all the strokes at his command, should technically bat all the 50 overs. And someone like Sachin, who has scored so many hundreds, has a highest score of 189, should get the maximum overs. If he goes the full distance, it's best for the team." Sunny cautions players taking their positions for granted. For the new selection panel that takes charge end-September, there is a message from the Little Master: "If players take their place for granted, then their performance will crash. Performance has to be key."

But for how long should we keep experimenting? Sunny answers: "At least one month before the World Cup, or by the end of the tour of South Africa, all experiments should stop. By the time we play West Indies and Sri Lanka before the World Cup, all positions must be settled and players must be told their roles. Only then players will be confident and India will perform as a team with individuals aware of their nature of duty. Of course, things will have to remain flexible, but the job profile for every player must be identified."

Assuming that India picks the right batsmen for the right positions, Gavaskar's observation that Chappell has still not been able to identify the best bowling combination is cause for concern. Gavaskar identifies Ajit Agarkar, who had a decent outing in the West Indies, as the only reliable new ball bowler but stops short in naming someone who can partner the wiry Mumbaikar. "Irfan Pathan is ok but he is more of an allrounder. The new ball attack worries me, really."

And that's not all, Gavaskar points at glitches in the spin department too. His belief for traditional values is eloquently clear when he just names Harbhajan Singh as the only reliable man in the spin department, but who will be his ideal foil? Gavaskar's vote is expected to go in Anil Kumble, not Romesh Powar and not even the talented rookie Piyush Chawla. "It's hard to find Kumble's replacement. He can bowl at the right spot with his eyes closed. Wake him up from sleep and Kumble will bowl the first ball at the right spot," says Sunny, justifying his great belief in the Bangalore veteran who didn't find favour for the Champions Trophy in October.

Amidst all this, Gavaskar's heart probably bleeds a little for Ganguly. The former captain had a poor County stint but Gavaskar has scant respect for County cricket. Gavaskar sees a flicker of hope for Ganguly in the World Cup squad. It may sound a bit over-ambitious but Gavaskar opines that Ganguly's "four-five overs of straight-forward medium-pace on low and slow Caribbean wickets may come in handy." And as far his batting is concerned, "Ganguly has to score plenty of runs in domestic cricket to come in." And the first opportunity will come in the Challenger series in October.

With the exit of Kiran More as chairman of selectors, the new panel that will come into effect after the end-September BCCI AGM in Mumbai will have quite a job at hand. If Gavaskar is to be believed, then as many as six to seven positions in the Indian first XI are undecided and that's a huge number six months away from the World Cup. BCCI insiders say former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar is likely to succeed More as chairman of selectors and given Vengsarkar's uncompromising nature, it is unlikely that Chappell and Dravid will have their way in selection meetings. The first indications will come when the selectors name the squads for the Challenger series and more importantly, the tour of South Africa starting mid-November.

As the countdown starts for the World Cup, the selectors will increasingly come under focus. Gavaskar cautions the BCCI saying that it's important to pick selectors who will have the trust of the ordinary Indian fan. "The fan must not question who is this man in the panel? If that happens, then there is a problem. The World Cup is round the corner. Chose the best guys who have integrity and the confidence of the fan," says Gavaskar, advising the BCCI that it must immediately come out of the quagmire of a man each from the five zones in India. "Have five men by all means but there may be three from one zone, pay them well to do their job and see the results," Gavaskar says. Is Sharad Pawar listening?