Arrogance has many forms. Sometimes it’s the cocky swagger and belligerence of a winning side, as is often the manner of the Australian cricket team. Sometimes, it presents as an ageing former star declaring other sides as unworthy of being present at the World Cup as was the case with Bishan Bedi. And, sometimes, it takes the form of another ageing star telling others the best way to behave on a cricket field, as was the wont of Sunil Gavaskar.

Irony, too, comes in many forms, but the one that we’re interested in here is the elimination of India by one of the very minnows that Mr Bedi dismissed as being not good enough to attend this tournament. Like Pakistan, whose elimination has been overshadowed by the tragic events surrounding their coach, India did not perform at anywhere near the level that was needed to proceed to the Super Eights.

On paper, at least, the Indian team should have been contenders. There is no question that they have the talent, and have shown glimpses of the form needed to get through to the semi-finals, but they seem incapable of putting it together when it counts. They failed the real test, against Bangladesh, when everyone apart from Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Signh failed to contribute. Even the little master, Sachin Tendulkar failed to contribute except in the closing stages of  the innings against a demoralised Bermudan attack.

Predictably, however, the main focus for the failure is the coach, Greg Chappell. The knives are out for the Aussie batting legend and it seems he will be the first casualty of the bloodletting that will undoubtedly follow this ignominious first round elimination. Sunil Gavaskar, who stridently opposed Chappell’s appointment, is already hinting that Chappell will be cut loose.

Gavaskar, however, must have been watching a different World Cup to everyone else, and has stated that the captain should be spared. He, apparently, saw no problem with Rahul Dravid’s performance and is quoted as saying "I don't see any reason for a change because Dravid has not shown any sign of pressure. His batting has not faltered." This despite his only decent contribution being 60 in a losing total against Sri Lanka. I guess it’s much easier to blame an outsider.

Kapil Dev had a much more pragmatic view of proceedings and stated what many would see as the problem –  that the senior players lacked commitment. The truth, however, undoubtedly lies somewhere between the two extremes. Chappell’s record as a coach is not good, a reminder that brilliance as a player does not necessarily translate to an ability to coach. The players, too, need to take some of the blame. The Indian team is stacked with talent and it is they, not the coach, who have to deliver on the cricket field.

Coaching at a senior level is more akin to being a social worker or psychologist. By the time players represent their nation, they have usually ironed out the flaws in their techniques or have adapted their game to accommodate those flaws. Where they need help is in the mental preparation and tactics. The cultural differences between Chappell and the players may make that level of communication and trust impossible.

Regardless of how the after effects of this dismal failure pan out, this tournament will be seen as a lost opportunity and the remainder will be poorer for India’s absence.

There is one final question for those who, in response to the recent Sportingo articles written by Sanjay Mehta, Budhaditya Roy and myself, claimed that how the game is played is more important than winning or losing. I hope those people are all planning a ticker-tape welcome home parade for the Indian players, because they played with great spirit and sportsmanship and that is, apparently, the most important thing. I, on the other hand, will enjoy watching Australia continue in the World Cup because, when representing your nation, winning is all that matters.

Whos is to blame for India's dismal performance? We want your views at Sportingo.