Kohli, Umesh bright spots in dismal tour for India

Young Virat Kohli and Umesh Yadav have emerged as two notable bright spots in an otherwise disastrous Australian tour during which India's reputation as a cricketing giant took a beating.

If the 0-4 humiliation in the Test series was not enough, India, after a decent start to the tri-series, are almost on their way out of the one-day tournament, too.

In all likelihood, the world champions in the 50-over format are a week away from bringing the curtains down on their disastrous summer Down Under.

India have two matches remaining in the one-day series but critically, it's the final game against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval, Hobart next Tuesday, which it must win to extend their stay.

Even if India were to win against Australia on Sunday, Sri Lanka's win in Hobart would give them a one-point advantage. It then wouldn't matter even if Lankans were to lose their final league fixture at Melbourne on March 2.

India have 10 points to Lanka's 11 and even if they were to win against Australia in Sydney, Sri Lanka's win next Tuesday would still give them a point's advantage over their neighbours – unless India somehow manage a bonus point against the hosts on Sunday.

With hopes fading by the minute, it's time to take stocks of the damage which the present tour has done to Indian cricket and its cricketers.

Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, is still waiting for his 100th century. Eight innings of Tests and five in the one-day series have yielded only 377 runs and a mere two half centuries.

It's now only a few days to a year when he slammed his 99th international century – against South Africa in Nagpur in the World Cup last year.

Rahul Dravid, in all likelihood, would still be nursing his wounds back home in Bangalore for in the four Tests, he practically chose only one way to get out – bowled.

... contd.

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