The pundits got it half right. A really big win for India in Zimbabwe would stem the rot, they said, wipe out the loser mindset. India are poised for a suitably big win — but are in danger of falling into even more disarray. And this time it’s not player vs player; it seems — admittedly from a distance — captain vs coach. It’s a storm that had been brewing and those concerned or in charge looked the other way. Greg Chappell — ironically, once close to Ganguly — took charge of a team already divided into factions and headless thanks to a non-performing captain. Not the ideal recipe for a man given to form and discipline, and events that followed didn’t help: Dravid named captain, Ganguly plays under Dravid, Dravid sidelined, Ganguly named skipper, another final loss. After that nightmarish opening series in Sri Lanka, Chappell was keen to do better on his second foreign assignment. But circumstances ensured the tour got off to the most inauspicious start. There was no pre-tour camp, as sought, not even a team meeting before the flight out. Instead, the pre-tour press conference was delayed by several hours because the captain was late. Chappell, in regulation tour jacket and tie, addressed the press on his own, Ganguly, in T-shirt and jeans, did so too several hours later. What followed was a missive from coach to Board fuming at the improper arrangement. What also followed was yet another ODI final defeat. And the pressure on the team — coach, captain, seniors — grew. Cue to the eve of the Test, almost a now-or-never scenario; everyone had something at stake. Something had to give. Eventually it was the Indian captain’s sense of propriety that gave way, a breach of the unwritten code that team issues are kept within the dressing room, especially during a Test match. Ganguly has fired the first bullet. Sadly, it probably won’t be the last. TROUBLE IN PARADISE • Pakistan tour, 2003: Dravid speaks to media, says Nehra’s injured and won’t play in Pindi. Next day, Ganguly says Nehra’s okay and will play • Australia in India, 2004: Ganguly pulls out of Nagpur Test (where there’s a fast wicket— at last minute. Doesn’t go down well with team • Pak in India, 2005: Ganguly can’t score runs, calls for his resignation grow louder. Dravid backs skipper. Issue becomes murkier after Ganguly is banned • Sri Lanka: Is Dada skipper or not? Dravid says an individual is not important, Ganguly eventually plays under him • Player outbursts: first Ashish Nehra, aimed at Irfan, then VVS Laxman • Greg Chappell riled by ‘indiscipline’
