This was a year to forget for India’s one-day cricket team. It began badly, with a below-par performance in the VB Series, and ended in near-shambles in Bangladesh. In between, the highs of the first-ever ODI series win in Pakistan were balanced by the flops in the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy, NatWest Challenge. THE TEAM’S SCORE Played: 32; Lost: 16; Won: 15 Won at home: 0/1; Won away: 15/31 Bilateral series won: 2 • Pakistan one-day series 3-2 (March) • Bangladesh one-day series 2-1 (December) Bilateral series lost: 2 • NatWest Challenge: lost to England 1-2 (September) • BCCI PLatinum jubilee match lost to Pakistan Tournament final losses: 3 • VB Series: Lost to Australia in the final series 2-0 • Asia Cup: Lost to Sri Lanka in the final Did not qualify for finals • Holland tri-series and ICC Champions Troph THE PLAYERS’ CARD SAURAV GANGULY Led by example with the bat, moving up and down the order to accommodate other openers. No hundreds but a string of knocks to hold together innings at all points. Needs a proper slot in the New Year. (M: 31; Runs: 947, HS: 90; Avg: 32.65, 100: 0, 50: 7) SACHIN TENDULKAR Generally quiet year, missed European tour because of tennis elbow. Yet highest ODI run-getter averaged healthy 40.60 in 2004. Just one century, in a losing cause in Rawalpindi (M: 21, Runs: 812, HS: 141, Avg: 40.60, 100: 1, 50: 5) VIRENDER SEHWAG Promised much this year but one-day form was poor compared to his Test form. Had a big impact on India’s fortunes, though he picked up pace at year-end (M: 27, Runs: 671, HS: 90, Ave: 25.80, 50: 5) RAHUL DRAVID Ends the year as the world’s highest run-getter in 2004, 15 more than Kumar Sangakkara. Once again nursed India through the ICU, or forcefully took charge. Keeping suffered dropped, but was relieved of year-end (M: 31, Runs: 1025, HS: 104, Avg: 39.42,100: 1, 50: 10) VVS LAXMAN India’s most successful batsman, average-wise, but his big scores — including scorching hundred at Lahore — were last season. Then faded off form, and off the selectors’ radar (M: 25, Runs: 837, HS: 131, Avg: 41.85, 100: 4, 50: 1) YUVRAJ SINGH Role at No 6 hindered his consistency. Best knock was at Peshawar under pressure and when others were failing; ended on a high with a sizzler at Dhaka. Not enough in between (M: 31, Runs: 841, HS: 139, Avg: 30.03,100: 1, 50: 5) MOHAMMAD KAIF Unsettled in the batting order, never got any chance to flower. Was moved up later in the year with positive results. Will be remembered for the great escape — with Dravid — in Lahore’s series-equalling match (M: 22, Runs: 564, HS: 80, Avg: 37.60, 100: 0, 50: 4) ANIL KUMBLE Year to forget for India’s most successfull ODI bowler. Spent most of it on the bench, before seeing the light and opting out of Bangladesh tour. But Kumble against Pakistan on Indian pitches is a good thought (M: 13, W: 8, Best: 2/37, Avg: 68.87, Econ: 4.8, SR: 85.0) HARBHAJAN SINGH Missed Australia and Pakistan tours through injury but came back with some solid performances. Biggest let-down was in dewy Kolkata against Pakistan (M : 11, W: 13, Best: 3/28, Avg: 32.00, Econ: 3.85, SR: 49.8) IRFAN PATHAN The pick of 2004. Whether an early strike or a middle-order breakthrough, Pathan was always there. And then there was his batting. Best moment was in Lahore series-decider when he set up India’s first-ever win in Pakistan (M: 28, W: 47, Best: 4/24, Avg: 26.38, Econ: 4.98, SR: 31.7) ZAHEER KHAN More in the news for his hamstring injuries, yet to strike a purple patch. His fequent unavailability hurt India as much as his patchy form did. (M: 12, W: 14, Best: 3/66, Ave: 41.78, Econ: 5.73, SR: 43.7) AJIT AGARKAR In and out of the side but still showed his value to the team. Struck in most matches and was brilliant on the field. Best moment came with the bat against Pakistan as he helped India out of trouble (M: 13, Runs: 179, HS: 53, 50: 1, W: 21, Best: 6/42, BowlAv: 27.14)
