Harish Kotian makes an assessment of the Indian players' performance in the tri-series.

After the 4-0 whitewash in the Test series, India showed slight improvement in the CB tri-series, but faltered at crucial moments and failed to make it to the finals.

The World champions were unable to live up to their top billing, and knocked out of the tournament, having won just three of eight matches, while one, against Sri Lanka, finished in a tie.

The Lankans finished atop the standings to make it to the best-of-three finals against hosts Australia.

At times, it was felt that the Indians were experimenting rather than competing to win games, as they rotated their top order throughout the tri-series, leaving the team unsettled.

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir took turns at opening the innings, and it was not surprising that India's best opening stand in the tournament was just 54 runs, between Sehwag and Tendulkar, in their last match, against Sri Lanka in Hobart.