India's narrow three wicket win in Dambulla may have drawn them level with Sri Lanka but it marks a shift in team dynamics.

By Rajarshi Gupta

Once feared for the most lethal batting attack in the world, the Indian team now finds itself in a not so enviable postion of finding a complete batsman to take on the guiles of a talented but new born spinner.

The three Test series, which India meekly surrendered to the islanders (1-2) reflected the end of an era. The Fabulous Four not only gasped for dear breath against Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan but also appeared nervous and wrecked at the crease. Was that the end of the old order? If so, who will bridge the gap for the new?

Over the last 20 Test matches, Sachin Tendulkar has scored 1,447 runs at an average of 43.85, with four tons and eight half centuries, by no means an under achievement but by his own lofty standards, a huge disappointment.

Sourav Ganguly at an average of 44.19, VVS Laxman at an average of 46.07 have not been too bad either but the real scare has been Rahul Dravid, who has managed 1,164 runs at 34.24, scoring two centuries and six half centuries.

The crux of the matter is that India have not unearthed a new sensation to replace the legends. Yuvraj Singh, who has come closest to challenge one of the four middle order spots in the Test team has averaged 32.81 from 23 Tests with 1050 runs blazing three tons and three half centuries along the way, certainly not brilliant.

Yes, India do have Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir up the ladder but looking down the order, fans would not be too enthused.

India have faltered badly in the ODI's since their triumphant return from Australia with the CB Series victory. They made it to the finals of the Kitply Cup but what else would one have expected with Bangladesh and Pakistan as the other teams!

India again reached the finals of the STAR Cricket Asia Cup but only just, before going down to the might of the Sri Lankans.

In none of the above tournaments, did India have the services of the Fab Four. When they finally did turn up in the Tests, they flopped big time, leaving the team in tatters.

If it is indeed the end of the old order in the limited format (what with Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly given the cold shoulder and Tendulkar missing out on the last three commitments because of fitness worries), who will form the new one?

Yuvraj has been inconsistent, to say the least. So the focuse shifts towards Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.

Raina has played 45 ODI's so far in his brief career, scoring 1034 runs at an average of 34.47. He has smashed two centuries and five half centuries, with a best of an unbeaten 116.

2008 has been particularly stunning for the young southpaw from Uttar Pradesh. 422 runs in nine matches at an average of 60.29 with two centuries and two half centuries. That is quite something.

Sharma maybe a cause for some worry though. He has played 19 of his 23 ODI's this year and managed to just about tick around, having scored 410 runs at an average of 29.29 with three half centuries at a fraction less than 30.

What does make Sharma a special player is his ability to build partnerships at crucial phases - the way he did against Australia in Sydney with Tendulkar and against Pakistan a month and a half back in Karachi, partnering Dhoni.

There is obvious talent in the side. With the veterans struggling as they did against Sri Lanka, maybe it is time to phase them out. From the recent debacle on Lanka, one of the four spots might just open up for say, a Yuvraj or a Raina.

India have three more Test series to look forward to in the next six months against Australia, England and Pakistan, where the younger players in the side can blend with the seniors and try to slot in.

Test cricket is not an easy way of life and India would do well to let the stalwarts steer the ship for a while more. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni could obviously bank on youth to blaze the guns in the ODI's.

The game has only just begun!