The Murky World of Team India's Fitness Issues, Even MS Dhoni is Stumped

What's the ideal preparation for a World Cup? Acclimatisation? Match practice or transparency in team management? India have been winless after 10 weeks in Australia. While they have been worthless in Tests overseas, the failure to win a single game in the trination ODI series only reveals that there are worries in the squad than the naked eye can see. Fitness and the hide-and-seek around it seems to be a massive deterrent. (India Knocked Out of Triseries)

Indian cricket has this amazing propensity to keep the media in the dark. The lack of clarity even in cricket matters shows the team management in poor light. While cricket Boards of Australia, England and even Sri Lanka come up with regular media updates on fitness and player availability, the Indians have rarely done this. (Jadeja's Poor Batting Angers Ganguly)

Ahead of the Australia tour, there were questions on skipper MS Dhoni's availability. From thumb to wrist to elbow, almost every part of Dhoni's limb were under the scanner. Till date the BCCI is yet to officially say why Dhoni missed the first part of the Test series against Australia. Given Dhoni's commitment to the game, one can safely say he was not feigning injury. But why didn't the team's physio clear the air? (India Need Family Touch to Recreate World Cup Magic: Ganguly)

Dhoni's Test retirement was quite mysterious. The suddenness of the decision was quite shocking and the skipper's decision to keep mum only added to the puzzle. Now the captain himself is at the receiving end with Ishant Sharma's fitness under a cloud. The lanky pacer last played in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. (Kohli's Batting Position Doesn't Matter: Gavaskar)

That means for almost a month, he has been on a 'holiday' in the pretty Australian cities. Experts like Sunil Gavaskar have rightly questioned the wisdom of carrying 'passengers' like Ishant. Why can't they come back home for a rehab? Ravindra Jadeja was sent back to recover from injury and only made his comeback in Friday's must-win match versus England. Why is Ishant special?

With lack of clarity on Ishant's availability, Dhoni simply can't figure out his playing XI two weeks before the World Cup. Is this how world champions prepare? Indians love to thrive in chaos but when players hold the country's pride to ransom, then it needs to be addressed appropriately. But with a BCCI minus a leader and a secretary doing all the team talk, this is only to be expected. So when Dhoni says he is in a "Catch 22 situation," on selection matters, it is simply not because of bad batting or poor bowling. (Escapist Attitude Hurt India in Perth: Gavaskar)

There is no update on Ishant or Rohit Sharma's fitness. The team management loves to keep this under wraps. Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni were included in the triseries squad as back-ups. In Perth on Friday, Mohit was one of the three seamers and was quite impressive. Why didn't India play Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Umesh Yadav when they are part of the World Cup squad? Wasn't that part of Dhoni's plans?

Dhoni's reply adds to the mystery. "There has to be a reasoning, no? That's why they haven't played." The captain is obviously in no mood to give reasons. He may not even be sure as the next answer reveals. Ishant's knee remains wobbly and could be more than a niggle.

"According to the physio, he may be fit in the next four days," Dhoni said. "That's what they are saying. Apart from that, I am not a physio, I don't know. I just ask him who all are available and he tells me who are the guys who are available. I am okay with it."

There seems to be more questions than answers at this stage of India's World Cup build-up. While batting and bowling can be fixed with application and conviction, there is no medicine to cure secrecy, especially when it is deliberate. Why can't Ishant or Rohit Sharma, like Michael Clarke, be given a deadline to prove their fitness. Shape up or ship out. India have the bench strength.