Where to now, India?

In the end, the series result was a fair reflection on the strengths, weaknesses and fortitude of the two teams.

South Africa, under pressure to win at home after being 0-1 down, did everything that was required to get the result in their favor.

India, on the other hand,had their chances, which they let slip.

When the crunch moments came, one team had the nous and the fortitude to swing it in their favor. And that team was not India.

So where to now, Team India?

You will now play a series of ODIs, win a few, and all will be forgiven. Then you will step into the World Cup stage, where you will not get past the Super 8's.

And then,the recriminations will begin.

Questions will be asked of the coach, the captain, the team management, the senior players. Questions that have been asked before, questions with no adequate answers.

The usual cliches of "processes" and "no need for a bowling coach" and "the need to perform without focusing on the result" will be bandied. Apologists will spin this one way, detractors another.

And where will that leave Team India?

For starters, Lalit Modi will be a worried man, because you cannot sell a product that is mediocre, however good your marketing department is.

Sharad Pawar will be worried because you cannot angle for the top job at the ICC when the Board you are heading fronts up a team that cannot win. But then again, his main challenger is a Pom, so maybe he will feel a lot more secure.

Rahul Dravid will be a worried man because, unlike his predecessor, he has nothing spectacular to show for his term in office. Ganguly had Kolkata, Headingley, Adelaide and Multan, the ICC Champions Trophy and the finals of the World Cup. Rahul Dravid has Jamaica..or Karachi, Mumbai, Durban and Newlands ( "since winning is not important, learning is").

For an Indian captain who was reposed with unprecedented faith, by being appointed captain till the end of the World Cup,he has done very little to justify that faith.

Greg Chappell will be a worried man. Failure to get India to "the next level" basically torpedoes his prospects of coaching in the long term, for an international team. Time and time again, the team has repeated the exact same mistakes in similar situations under his watch.

Maybe there is a De Bono hat somewhere that explains this!!!

And what of the rest of the team?

The bowlers did a sterling job, and there is some serious talent there that needs nurturing. Bowling coach,anyone?

And the batting? For too long, India has been carrying passengers, who do just enough to justify their place in the next game or the next series. Sometimes, it is not even that. Past reputations are used as justifications for the continued presence of players in the side, players who should have been sidelined a long while ago. Playing favorites with team selections may win you brownie points with some in the short term, but will bite you in the rear at the most inopportune time.

So, where do we go from here?

For starters, candidates for the middle order must be identified and blooded. India has about 10 tests from the end of the World Cup until the Australia series. Sufficient time to start drafting in kids and giving them that 10 test cushion, so that, even if the veterans play against Australia, there are identified replacements for the medium term.

A bowling coach is a MUST. Pigheadedness by the Team management does not justify the non-inclusion of a bowling coach pronto.

And the captain? I had advocated the need for separate captains for tests and ODIs. This series has reinforced that view.

And the coach? if India win the World Cup, Greg Chappell will retain his job. If not, the search for a new coach will begin in earnest.

Tom Moody was my first choice as coach when John Wright quit, and if he is available, still is. Otherwise, Darren Lehmann is a good alternate, if he is interested in the job with India.

And me personally? No more spending big money and waking up at ungodly hours to watch a team that, quite frankly, does no justice to its talent or hype!!!