Half awake and swollen eyed as I walk into my office, I see a group of colleagues involved in an animated and heated discussion. Few sincere souls who are busy working, are too grim faced to greet my entry. To me, it paints a perfect picture of the way the country has reacted to India's terminated sojourn of the Caribbean. With the post-defeat analysis having just began, the team's unexpected exit from the World Cup will discussed at lenght in the media, among cricket lovers and in the Parliament too. No player will be spared as angry supporters will burn effigies and bring down houses. The sordidness of these acts is quite another issue but for once, this result is good for the game.

For too long India's over indulgence in cricket has affected it beyond imagination. With most of support and money that cricket today survives on, coming from India, it has led to the sport becoming over-dependent on a single country. It is an unhealthy sign for a sport when a team's exit from a big tournament has organisers worried. Any sport is to be viewed as a celebration of teamspirit, ability and gamesmanship irrespective of who the victor is. Sadly, cricket over the last few years has been reduced to a money driven commercial extravaganza and the simple game of bat and ball has taken a back seat in the process. It is just not cricket when India's defeat is mourned more than Sri Lanka's superlative performance applauded....