THATS THE WAY THE INDIAN COOKIE CRUMBLES !

For all those billion Indians who hoped, wished and prayed that the Indian team pull out a sterling performance against the Lankans, it is indeed a time of disappointment, frustration and despondency. A cloud of gloom has descended over the otherwise cheerful Indian supporters who have stood behind the men in blue at all times. For a team that boasts of three batsmen in the 9000+ league, to falter so dismally when it matters most, is miserable to say the least. The days to come will be hard. Questions will be raised, answers will be sought, heads will roll and every member of the Indian squad would be put through a scrutiny, not very different in intensity from what the NASA folks underwent after the Challenger and Columbia debacles. But in the midst of all this tumult and hodgepodge, at some level, should we Indian fans not hold ourselves responsible (though in a microscopic way) for India prematurely bowing out of the world cup? Considering the kind of encumbrance each member of the Indian team bears on his shoulder before stepping onto the field, the pressure of expectations weighs so heavily on him, that his strength to perform and eagerness to succeed is mitigated by his fear of failure, even before the first ball is bowled. It is indeed well known, that the Indian team chokes under pressure, but under what kind of pressure? Is it really the pressure caused by the situation in hand? Or is it the pressure of having to perform day in and day out knowing that, for the millions of Indians glued to their television sets, failure is simply not an option. More often than not, it is this huge pressure of expectations, that causes any realistic chances of success to go kaput, and then, the familiar sight of the Indian cookie crumbling is witnessed all over again!