Finally, they are back. Back to the pavilion, I mean. Now they can sit relaxed as the audience and watch the remaining matches of the Champions Trophy. They must have heaved a sigh of relief that they are out of competition. After all, endorsements, partying, late nights with GFs, can slacken anyone.

So much so, India's cricketers at the Champions Trophy in South Africa were being encouraged by their coach to have sex to boost their on-field performance (as if they need any encouragement for bedroom performance, forget on field).

And the poor Indian cricketers fail to perform when required yet again. They wake up when it is too late. They no longer bring name or fame to the game. Their association is a shame.

They are all hype and no substance. All big bhashans in equally big press conferences and the end result is tai tai phish. They are called Men in Blue. Be it blue or black, what about their performance? More importantly, what about their fitness – both body and mental?

Saturday: The most coveted match against Pakistan was lost. It was like they gifted Pakistan with the match. They didn’t need the win. For Indians will never criticize them even if they lose. The young Turks from Pakistan played like it was do or die. They were rewarded with a win. Dhoni ended up blaming Tendulkar for less runs. What about his own run rate? Tendulkar was out to set records. Poor him. Dhoni wailed for non-availability of Sahwag and Yuvraj. (What about the ones, who were available like Dravid?)

Monday: Then against Australia they were satisfied with a point each. After all, beggars can’t be choosers. The Indians thanked their good luck that a tornado hit the filed and they didn’t need to play. They were happy with a point. Free ke point ki value hi kuchh aur hai.

Wednesday: Indian cricketers WON against West Indies. Wow. But it was of no use. It was TOO late. Pakistan lost to Australia and poor Indians were out of the game. Too bad, you would say. Not really.

Thursday: Indian cricket lovers are stumped (as usual).

Why should these stuppids depend on Pakistan winning against Australia to enter semi-finals? On their own can’t they win matches? Aren’t they capable of that much? Isn’t that for they went to play in the first place? Should they do things by proxy? Shame upon them.

Why are these cricketers so much hyped when they don’t perform? Their larger than life image is their undoing. They cannot match up with it. Before becoming cricketers and playing for India nationally or internationally, what are their credentials. What is their family background?

The game that give them so much glory, name, fame and most importantly MONEY, what do these pathetic players do for it? Even more important, what do they do for the trust of countless Indians, who pray for them and their win?

These unknown names suddenly find lot of attention and cannot handle it. Things go awry as is happening now or countless times earlier.

Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh and many others have anger management problem. Their misbehaviour in hotels and on field is seen to be believed. Having fun nights with girl friends in hotels is the done thing.

Once they win a match, they become demi gods. The public goes crazy. Endorsements pour in. The ones, who were clerks in banks earlier and were earning in thousands, suddenly find their bank accounts loaded with crores.

For these cricketers, cricket has become a step towards riches rather than a game to play and win laurels. Match fixing abound. But no one is punished. Everything is hushed up. What merry-go-round goes on can be seen in Indian cricket alone. There is no pride in winning the game but personal glories and records are craved for.

The worst is there is no team spirit. It is so dispirited team. If they make runs, it is for them. If they claim wickets, it is their personal victory. So where comes India, Indians and cricket. Why do we need these cricketers?

A life of ease and lavishness is what they have got used to. It is time they came down to earth. Let a new team of youngsters be constituted and these non-performers be shown the door. They should pay or perish. Why do we need to glorify the name and not the game?

It is about time to do the rethinking. Indian cricket lovers have been taken for a ride time and again. When they win, they make crores, get high, have peccadilloes with Bolly actresses and misbehave. Now that they have ingloriously lost, what should the public do? Clap or slap?

All cricketers take pride in their country and strive to bring victory. Apparently Indian cricketers don’t believe in it except lip service. If they can’t bring laurels to the game, why should we have them? If a student fails in a class, he has to repeat the year. What should these cricketers do? Is there a demotion?

If they can’t remain active cricketers, they can become commentators. Wow. They will never be out of circulation.

Now that they are returning home, let’s welcome them to the reality. They are out of Champion’s Trophy. Let’s ask them are they ashamed? Period.