So what does their poor run come down to? Experts are increasingly feeling that owner Shah Rukh committed a monumental blunder when he allowed Buchanan to call the shots (particularly when he agreed to have a 16-member support staff for a 17-member squad). Getting impressed by the multiple-captain theory did not help either, and the auction was a disaster as the coach lined up a motley crew of average youngsters and over-the-hill seniors to back the team’s big stars.

“It’s hard to inspire a team that isn’t getting the results it desperately wants but we’re just trying to talk about things. To lose like this is disappointing, all we need is one man who can turn it around for us, lead us from the front and we rally around him. We can’t look to buffer up averages and say at the end of the season that I’ve done well but we couldn’t do well as a team. I keep giving this message inside the dressing room,” McCullum said, fuelling speculations of a veiled reference to Ganguly.

Interestingly, Ganguly offered no comment when asked if he would have done things differently had he remained the skipper.

In Shah Rukh’s words, “KKR was born in Eden Gardens and will die there.” Ironically a youngster hailing from Eden Gardens — Shreevats Goswami, playing for Bangalore — plotted their downfall at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

Chappell was sacked immediately after the 2007 World Cup. What will happen to Buchanan after this IPL? As things stand, it’s easy to venture a guess.