It's not been a very auspicious beginning to the new season for Indian cricket. Finishing third out of three teams in one competition and ending up second best in another tournament with three participating teams is not exactly the best way to start a new season which seemed so full of hope particularly after the appointment of Sachin Tendulkar as captain. The important point to note is that it was not a very strong field. Had India finished the way they did in tournaments in which the competition was from Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, perhaps the overall performance could have been understandable. But when the other teams were Australia and Sri Lanka in the Aiwa Cup and West Indies and Zimbabwe in the Coca Cola Singapore Challenge, surely one was not unjustified in expecting a better showing.

But the Indian team seemed to be still suffering from the hang over of their disappointing show in the World Cup. Otherwise there was no reason why they could not get the better of West Indies and Sri Lanka, both of whom were eliminated in the preliminary stage of the World Cup. The point is that while West Indies and Sri Lanka already initiated the rebuilding process, India have adopted a dithering approach. The players are more or less, the team's coach and doctor are the same, the think tank and attitude is the same. And that is the chief reason why the team is not playing to potential.

If ever there was a chance to try out new, young and talented players it was now. The tournaments in Sri Lanka and Singapore were important but not as important as the tours to this country by New Zealand and South Africa of the trip to Australia - all scheduled for later in the season. Certainly it would be wiser to try out young, fresh blood early in the season rather than throw them in the deep end of the pool during the sterner tests ahead. That is, assuming the selectors have such bold steps lined up in the near future.

This is one time when the captain can't be blamed for a team's lacklustre showing. He did his best as batsman and tactician. He has even pulled himself out of the side in a bid to treat his troublesome back before the injury becomes worse. Plainly put, he was let down by his players. The batsmen were woefully out of touch, the bowling left much to be desired and there was no improvement at all in the always fragile area of fielding. To make matters worse, a new problem in running between the wickets surfaced. There has to be a radical change in the general approach, which will have to include a more rigorous and modern physical training programme and a specialist trainer in fielding. The fitness problems faced in quick succession by Azharuddin, Agarkar, Tendulkar and Jadeja are warning signals that will have to be heeded.

One would be surprised if the Indian team's showing exceeds expectations in Toronto. But at least the injuries to Tendulkar and Jadeja have given Jacob Martin and Amit Bhandari a chance to prove their worth. Also hopefully the five match series between India A and Australia A in Los Angeles about the same time will throw up a couple of players good enough to earn an India cap. One must not forget that cricketers like Agarkar and Ramesh came up through the India A ranks. Besides the other factors mentioned, what Indian cricket needs now are talented young players. Some of the so called stars have been given enough chances. The rebuilding process could be initiated in real earnest. It is already late, but then better late than never.