Ten reasons why India are returning home

I was out on travel yesterday and was not able to watch the India vs England match live. So I will just summarize my observations on why India exit the tournament mid-way when many (including us) called them the favourites for the second time.

1. India, despite winning the previous edition, did not have an excellent T20 I record to speak. 7 wins and 1 draw in 13 matches is not the kind of record a team vying for the top honours generally possesses.
2. Number 3 is a crucial batting position and is not to be tampered with according to a captain’s whims and fancies. India have always failed when they experimented with their number 3 (Remember Chappell-Dravid-Irfan Pathan).
3. India’s batting was not upto the mark in the whole tournament and the victories against Bangladesh and Ireland gave them a false sense of security that all was in order.
4. They had a captain who himself wasn’t batting well. His rift with Sehwag (inspite of the rumours surrounding it) was uncalled far.
5. No matter howmuchever runs Rohit scores, he is still no Sehwag.
6. Ravindra Jadeja seemed to be playing a completely different kind of a cricket match against England. You don’t play someone with very little International T20 experience in a crunch game.
7. Indian bowling with the new ball and in the death was second only to the Irish and the Kittens.
8. Indian fielding went from bad to worse with every game in the tournament.
9. India, despite each of its batsmen playing 35 odd IPL matches in the last two years haven’t still learnt how to pace a T20 innings after losing too many wickets upfront.
10. Indian players have played a lot of cricket in the recent past and their fatigue proved to be an important factor as well.