The problem started with the opening match against the West Indies. It did not help that the summer of 1979 wasn't particularly sunny. Constantly overcast, the conditions were ideal for quick bowlers and the West Indian battery of pace bowlers made sure they got on top very early. India was constantly struggling and at one point, was reduced to 5 for 77 with only Gundappa Viswanath showing any application. Some support from the tailenders allowed him to take the total to 190 but India could not even last the full 50 overs. For the West Indies, Michael Holding took 4/33 while Andy Roberts picked up 2/32. Garner, Croft and King all chipped in with one wicket each.

In reply, the West Indian opening pair of Greenidge and Haynes put on 138 and made the chase look ridiculously easy. Greenidge scored 106* while Haynes was the only man out for 47. Viv Richards came in to polish off the chase with a quick 28* and the West Indies had begun their defence in style.

As the two-week long event went on, India kept getting worse. Their next match against New Zealand saw Gavaskar score 55 off 144 balls in a total of 182. Once again, India had managed to be bowled out without playing out their quota of 60 overs. The New Zealand reply was another strong one as the Indian bowlers failed to make any impression. An opening partnership of 100 between Wright and Edgar effectively put India out of the match and although India picked two quick wickets to have NZ at 103 for 2, the target was never imposing enough. Glenn Turner (43*) paired up with Edgar (84*) to ensure an easy 8-wicket win for the New Zealanders.

With all hopes of a semi-final berth dashed, India had only pride to play for against Sri Lanka who was one of the two qualifiers for the 1979 edition. But a campaign that had been so bad so far got worse.

Powered by some fine half-centuries by Sunil Wettimuny (67), Roy Dias (50) and Duleep Mendis (64), Sri Lanka set India an imposing 239 to win. If India's batting in the previous games was anything to go by, this was going to be a tall order. And so it was. Dilip Vengsarkar topscored for India with 36 as India slumped to 191 all out, once again, inside their 60 overs. Leg spinner Somachandra de Silva accounted for Vengsarkar, Patel and Amarnath to finish with 3/29 off his quota of 11 overs.

India had once again faltered in the shorter version of the game and there were serious questions that were being raised of the make-up of the side. Sri Lanka was the only minnow side to win against a Test playing nation (they had also scared Australia with a 276 in 1975) and India was to return home without even a point to their name.

The individual performances were nothing to write home about either. Viswanath (106 runs from 3 matches) and Gavaskar (89 runs from 3 matches) were the only two performers. Mohinder Amarnath with 4 wickets and Kapil Dev with 2 were the only wicket-takers for India!

Once again, India had not performed to potential and was proving to be easy opponents on the world stage… but change was around the corner!

PHOTO © GETTY IMAGES