You can't expect Sehwag, Sachin to fire every time

It was a shocking sight for me to watch an experienced bowler like Watson sending down schoolboy deliveries and worse still, Ponting persisting with him despite the seamer being plundered. In those four overs, Watson conceded 46 runs! Compare this to Watson's other six overs in which he went for just 25 runs while taking two wickets.

Honestly, I could hardly believe what I was watching. It's all fine to say that Harbhajan was in his batting ''zone'' and connecting virtually every time he swung the bat. The point is that at times, it is difficult to fathom Ponting's captaincy, like in the Ashes series when he did not include a spinner for the last Test and brought on Siddle when it was too late in the day to stop England.

Of course, the Punter will advance suitable response if at all he chooses to, but then, his tactics all but let the Indians out of the jail. It was like watching a benevolent policeman unlocking the handcuffs to let the prisoner go scot free. My choice would have been Brett Lee for the final overs unless the fast bowler had indicated he was not in a position to do after two weeks of Champions Trophy that ended just 48 hours before the Vadodara game.

Coverage: India v Australia

Overall, the match would be as much remembered for the ''close'' finish as some rank bad bowling and fielding. However, the proponents of 50-50 game would have been happy at the ''thrilling'' end that would have probably given ODI another lungful of oxygen at a time when there are plenty around who are predicting a premature death to the 50-over bash.

While Ponting, Paine, White and Hussey propped up the Aussie middle order, the Indians fared quite miserably in their chase. It is obvious that the Indians do not have a big-hitter who can provide or sustain momentum. Dhoni is not the batsman of the old when he used to hit sixes at will. The lack of aggression in his batting has certainly affected the team's batting during the middle overs and at the death. Only he can explain the sea change in his approach to batting.

It is obvious then that India continues to depend on a couple of players to pull them through, whether it is in batting or bowling. You cannot expect the likes of Sehwag and Sachin to fire every time. Yet, you will have to admit that the duo has not been consistent enough. There is too much of ''iffiness'' in Sehwag's batting while Sachin seems to score only once every five times.

Losing too many wickets in powerplay did us in: Dhoni

Sachin has been around for far too long for Aussies not to work out a plan for him, like keeping a short cover (where Ponting took the catch) and a short midwicket. On Sunday, the Aussies kept him on a tight leash and virtually forced an error from Sachin's bat. For sure, you can expect much the same in the remaining matches and if yet Sachin can deliver consistently, then mark it down to his greatness.

As regards India's bowling, it was spot on for much of the innings, but I thought the Aussies batted extremely well and were far too composed to allow the loss of an early wicket to disturb their intent that obviously was a score closer to 300. For me, Ishant and Jadeja were the pick of the Indian bowlers and it was good to see the former working up some good pace and movement. I am almost tempted to say that Ishant is fast regaining his form and could be the bowler to watch in the series.

It is early days yet to make any definitive judgments or predictions or conclusions, but I only hope that cricket in the remaining games would be of much higher standards that both teams are capable of.